Who You Gonna Call? The Avengers, Duh!

For those of you foaming at the mouth for Thor and Captain America, I’ve got some exciting news for you.  Fresh out of screenwriter/director Joss Whedon’s mouth comes word that filming on next summer’s superhero extravaganza The Avengers is officially underway.  In a letter written by the geek messiah himself, Whedon announced that filming would begin yesterday in Albuquerque.  According to Entertainment Weekly, the much-anticipated project will also shoot in Cleveland and New York City.  As you probably know, The Avengers will team up Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, Robert Downey, Jr.’s Iron Man, Chris Evans’ Captain America, and Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk.  Joining them will be Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, to name a few.  The film will be released on May 4, 2012.

I’m optimistic about this project for a couple of reasons.  First off, Whedon has assembled himself one hell of a cast.  (If I’m being totally honest, I’m a little disappointed that Ed Norton won’t be reprising his role as Hulk, but I’m pleased that Mark Ruffalo will be stepping into – and bursting out of – his shoes.)  Second, if anyone can juggle all those characters while still managing to tell a good story, it’s Joss Whedon.  Whedon is an amazing storyteller, and has created some pretty groundbreaking television series, including Firefly, Dollhouse, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, my favorite television show growing up.

Which superhero movie are you most excited for?