Yahoo Movies debuted a banner featuring Chris Evans as Captain America, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/Hulk, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man and Chris Hemsworth as Thor, for the upcoming film “The Avengers,” set for a May 4, 2012 release.  The film is directed by Joss Whedon.

The Avengers who haven’t had their own solo movies as yet, plus one villain, are found on a second banner via Moviefone.  Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury,Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye and Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow round out the second banner, which can be seen at Moviefone or by clicking past the cut.

- Matt Price

Mila Kunis arrives at the 83rd annual Academy Awards.

Mila Kunis looked fantastic last night at the 83rd annual Academy Awards. While she clearly has her pick  of roles right now, I’d love to see her in a superhero franchise – like the upcoming Avengers, perhaps?   Who better to play Janet Van Dyne, aka the Wasp, who went from airheaded socialite to hard-nosed leader of the Avengers?   Maybe Joss Whedon got the same idea watching the Oscars.   What do you think? Should Mila Kunis play a superhero?

- Matt Price
Click past the cut for more Mila Kunis pictures from the Oscars.

Joss Whedon (AP)

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” creator Joss Whedon, who directs tonight’s episode of “Glee,” said working on the series was “enormously fun” and “gratifying.”   The episode, “Dream On,” airs tonight on FOX and features Neil Patrick Harris (“How I Met Your Mother”).   Whedon couldn’t give any updates on “The Avengers” or other projects, but did share his “Glee” on a conference call promoting the show.  Excerpts from the interview are below:

Joss Whedon: Directing somebody else’s show is – I’ve done it once before, twice just with The Office. It helps if the show’s unutterably wonderful.  That takes a lot of the pressure off.  It’s a little tricky.  You’re living in somebody else’s house and you have to make sure that you’re fulfilling their needs.  It also takes some of the burden off you.  You don’t have to be the guy who sees the big picture.  You just take what they give you and make sure that you’re servicing it as best you can.  Having said that, Glee is probably harder to shoot than any other show in recorded history, with all the different elements going on and whatnot; it’s a different kind of challenge, but ultimately enormous fun.

Question:  What were you able to do with the dance number that maybe you weren’t able to do in your other musical episode from Dr. Horrible?

Joss Whedon: Well, dance would be one thing.  There’s more real hard-core dancing in the show, not in every number.  Some numbers are just about movement.  Then I get to be seriously involved in creating that movement.  Then some numbers are real dance numbers and that’s all Zach Woodlee and Brooke, the choreographers, they’re phenomenal.  There were numbers that I didn’t know exactly how they worked narratively until I saw the choreography and then said, oh, this all works just fine.  I got to really shoot some fun dancing and most of the stuff I’ve done has been more just movement.

Question: You obviously did a musical episode of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.  How does that compare to Glee?  Did it prepare you in a way?

Joss Whedon:  Oh, yeah, oh, yeah.  Doing Buffy and doing Dr. Horrible were both great prep for something like this.  This is obviously not my first rodeo.  It’s different, Glee, obviously, but knowing a little bit of the realities of the difference in a day’s work between shooting a musical number and shooting just a regular scene, is very useful.  It’s the kind of thing that I would like to spend a lot more of my time doing.  I love musicals deeply and dearly.  This was a return to home for me.  Not my home, but a very welcoming one.

Question: So, would you do another episode of Glee in the future?

Joss Whedon: “Nevah, nevah.”  Oh, yeah, I choked, totally.  Sorry.  If I had the window and they would take me, yes, in a heartbeat.

Eliza Dushku (AP)

Eliza Dushku takes the No. 6 spot on Nerdage’s list of actresses with geek appeal.  Dushku finished up her role as Echo on “Dollhouse” in 2010, as the Joss Whedon drama finished up its run after 27 episodes.  Dushku previously starred as Faith on the Whedon series “Angel” and “Buffy: The Vampire Slayer.”  She also starred as Tru Davies from 2003-2005 on the series “Tru Calling.”

She’s also been in multiple films, including “Sex and Breakfast,” “Bottle Shock” and “The Alphabet Killer.”  She appeared in “Bring it On” in 2000, and Kevin Smith’s “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” in 2001.   In 2009, rumors circulated that she might play DC Comics’ Wonder Woman, though she said she thought that was mostly wishful thinking from fans.   Her name has also been mentioned in connection with a potential third “Ghostbusters” film.

- Matt Price

Joss Whedon (AP)

Deadline Hollywood reports Joss Whedon is in final negotiations to direct Marvel’s franchise property, “The Avengers.”

The “Avengers” film will team Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and will likely also feature SHIELD’s Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson).  The individual heroes’ films are set to lead into “The Avengers,” which certainly indicates Marvel doesn’t want to blow this movie.

While Whedon’s box-office is tenuous, his geek cred is enormous, as the creator of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Serenity,” and as the writer of comics including “Astonishing X-Men” and “Fray.”

Whedon has been approached by those wanting to make comic-book films before; he was previously attached to “Wonder Woman,” and was approached about “X-Men 3.”  In both cases, he didn’t end up making the film – he passed on “X-Men 3″ to instead work on “Wonder Woman,” which he eventually left over creative differences.  I think fans will be thrilled if this happens, and it seems like a good choice for Marvel.

- Matt Price

Two big Whedon-related announcements have come out today.

First, according to SciFi Wire, Joss Whedon’s “Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season Eight” comics could be coming to the Web as motion comics webisodes.  For anyone who hasn’t yet read the comics, they are quite good. I’m not completely sold on motion comics as yet (I have, so far, always preferred the original comic), but it should be a good way to share “season eight” with those who might prefer it in this format.

In other Whedon family news, Zack Whedon, one of the writers of “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog,” announced via Techland that he will be writing a new Terminator comic-book series for Dark Horse.

“I am not a big-time, famous dude and yet now I am choreographing action sequences set in a post-apocalyptic future overrun by evil cybernetic organisms hell bent on destroying the human race. How is that possible?! I’ll answer your question, Made-Up Person. It’s possible because in comics it doesn’t cost 150 million dollars to tell that story. They can put an idiot like me in charge!” Zack Whedon writes.

While it’s been a rough month for Whedonites with the cancellation of “Dollhouse,” maybe this will ease the sting somewhat.

- Matt Price

According to Entertainment Weekly, Fox will not be ordering additional episodes of “Dollhouse” and will burn off the remainder of the 13-episode order in December.   Fox moving it around on the schedule surely didn’t help anything.   Hopefully fans will still be able see the promised episode directed by John Cassaday.

I’ll admit, I’m part of the problem. While I love Whedon’s work, I didn’t get into “Dollhouse” after watching the first couple of episodes.   I planned to eventually catch up on DVD — and I suppose I still will — but that doesn’t help keep the show on.   Overall, I guess it’s a surprise that a nearly naked Eliza Dushku (as seen in the first season promos) didn’t deliver big enough ratings to keep the show going. Those of you who watched “Dollhouse,” feel free to sound off in the comments.

- Matt Price

Here’s an excerpt from the interview; click here for the entire thing, which is well-worth reading.

The Beat: Directing? Why directing? How long has this been going on? Was this your childhood goal?

John Cassaday: Directing has always been half the dream for me, the other half being comics. Friends I had growing up would tell you exactly that. I always knew what I wanted, which was to be a visual storyteller…to tell those stories the way that I saw them… I believe there’s a tangible cross-section of thought here. When I read a comic script, I often see the scenes behind a camera—the shots, the movements and sound, the actors… At times, I’ve read screenplays and see the comic page. These things blend in my mind, so I do my best to shape them into what is needed. I believe in cinematic storytelling, whether it’s on a comic page or on film.

I’m looking forward to seeing what Cassaday brings as a director, though I’ll miss his comic work.  However, he says in the interview he won’t give it up completely, so I imagine we’ll still see covers and occasional interiors on projects from Marvel and Dynamite.

Let’s hope Marvel will reprint Cassaday’s currently out-of-print “Captain America” to fill some of the demand for Cassaday sequential art over the next couple of years.

- Matt Price

Look for episodes of “Firefly,” “Friends” and more at TheWB.com, moving to an open, public beta starting today.  But that’s not all — TheWB.com will have original series as well.

Premiering today are the web series “Blue Water High,” “A Boy Wearing Makeup,” and “Whatever Hollywood.”

The McG-produced “Sorority Forever” launches Sept. 8.  “Downers Grove” will debut on September 29, and “High Drama” will bow on October 6.

Full release after the cut.

BURBANK, Calif. (August 27, 2008) – The WB is back in business, with the official public launch today of TheWB.com – a premium, ad-supported, video-on-demand, interactive and personalized network – to the public. Announced in April, TheWB.com had previously been in private beta and now transitions to an open, public beta.

            TheWB.com will debut original series from such creative talent as director/producer McG (the upcoming “Terminator Salvation,” “Supernatural,” the “Charlie’s Angels” films) and writer/producer Josh Schwartz (“Gossip Girl,” “Chuck,” “The O.C.”), among many others.  A selection of both fan-favorite and original series will be available at launch today, and others will roll out in coming weeks and months.

            Two previously announced original series – “Downers Grove” and “High Drama: Against All Oz” – now have premiere dates. “Downers Grove” will debut on September 29, and “High Drama” will bow on October 6.

            TheWB.com will also feature full episodes of fan-favorite series that have shaped popular culture and inspired devoted followings over the past decade, including “Angel,”  “Babylon 5,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Everwood,” “Firefly,” “Friends,” “Gilmore Girls,” “In Living Color,” “The Loop” “MADtv,” “The O.C.,” “One Tree Hill,” “Roswell,” “Smallville” and “Veronica Mars.”

            “TheWB.com is a new digital destination built from the ground up for the same 16–34 year-old audience that embraced The WB when it was a television phenomenon,” said Brent Poer, GM, TheWB.com. “We have loaded the site with their favorite classic series like ‘Friends’ and ‘The O.C.,’ high-quality original programming and a wide array of sharing features, mash-up tools, and interactivity options to fit their lifestyle.”

            Original and acquired series will include:

            “Sorority Forever” (premieres September 8): Director/producer McG, through his Wonderland Sound and Vision banner, teams up with Big Fantastic – producers of the hit digital series “Prom Queen” – on an innovative mystery/drama which peeks behind the walls of one of the most intriguing secret societies in the world: the sorority. With a mystery around every corner, “Sorority Forever” will provide viewers with a sexy, immersive experience that is simultaneously realistic and voyeuristic:  Think “Prom Queen” meets “The O.C.,” but set in college.  The series stars Jessica Rose (“lonelygirl15”), Mikaela Hoover, Taryn Southern, Anabella Casanova, Candice Patton, Annemarie Pazmino, Jessica Morris, Cary Hungerford, Angie Cole, David Loren and Joaquin Pastor. McG will executive produce, along with Big Fantastic creators/executive producers Douglas Cheney, Chris Hampel, Chris McCaleb and Ryan Wise. Producing alongside McG at Wonderland Sound and Vision are Peter Johnson, Matthew King and Jeff Grosvenor.

            “Blue Water High” (premieres today, August 27): The ultimate adventure comes to life for six Australian teenagers in this drama set at an exclusive, ultra-competitive surf academy where they live, study, surf and socialize together. At the end of the grueling 12-month residential athletic and academic program, two surfers – one male and one female – will win the prize they’ve all been fighting for: admission to the professional surfing circuit and a sponsorship contract. Series stars include Adam Saunders, Chris Foy, Kate Bell, Khan Chittenden, Sophie Luck and Tahyna Tozzi.

            “A Boy Wearing Makeup” (premieres today, August 27): Mathieu Francis is a boy … who wears makeup … and looks fabulous.  In this highly personal online video diary, Mathieu dispenses makeup advice and fashion tips while taking viewers along on his own personal journey.  Imagine what a boy this pretty can teach you.

            “Whatever Hollywood” (premieres today, August 27):  Suri, Apple and Shiloh are three best friends who are taking Hollywood by storm and playing by their own rules. Tune in to their self-described fun and silly short films (many featuring their own original music), as well as the reality-style “Whatever Show.” As smart as they are beautiful, this talented trio hates waiting for Hollywood to answer their calls … so they decided to do it for themselves.  Whatever, Hollywood! “Whatever Hollywood” stars Ellyn Ruschak as Suri, Alyssa Ruschak as Shiloh and Jenny Alden as Apple.

            “Downers Grove” (premieres September 29): Alden, Brett, Pudge, and Jodi never grew up. When everyone their age went away to college, they stayed in the suburbs, always on the prowl for the next party and never far from disturbing the peace. In Downers Grove, you can never go home again. So they never left. “Downers Grove” stars David Horwitz, Michael Blaiklock, Justin Becker, Elisha Yaffe, Anne Gregory, Heidi Heaslet, Ashton Grant and Kasia Szarek.

            “High Drama: Against All Oz” (premieres October 6): Created by James Percelay (“Snaps,” “Saturday Night Live”), this unscripted series documents the production of a big-budget high school musical version of “The Wizard of Oz” at Barnstable High School in Hyannis, Mass., bringing viewers all the real and imagined behind-the-scenes drama on and off the stage. The series is from Bombo Sports & Entertainment in association with Studio 2.0. The executive producers are Percelay, Bombo’s Paul Doyle, Jr. and Studio 2.0’s Rich Rosenthal.

            Additional original and acquired series launching throughout 2008 and first quarter 2009 include:

            Untitled Josh Schwartz Music Project: Created by Josh Schwartz (“The O.C.,” “Chuck,” “Gossip Girl”) and executive produced with Alexandra Patsavas (music supervisor for “The O.C.,” “Gossip Girl,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Mad Men”), this new, web-exclusive series is set in the music world, taking viewers to the front of the line and behind the soundboard of a fictional Hollywood rock club and chronicling the lives and loves of the club’s employees, patrons and musicians.  The series, from Schwartz’s College Hill Pictures, will also feature on-camera performances by bands both established and unknown. Written in part by some of the music industry’s most original voices – rock critics and musicians alike – and married to a dynamic music networking website, this series will be the place to discover a new generation of stars and the next great bands.

            “Rich Girl, Poor Girl”:  From Gary Auerbach, the executive producer and creator of “Laguna Beach” and “Newport Harbor,” this reality series takes a wealthy Orange County, Calif., girl and swaps her life with that of a low-income teen from Los Angeles. It’s a comedic experiment in what makes us different – while also pointing out what we have in common.

            “Exposed”: Through his Wonderland Sound and Vision banner, McG executive produces a thriller about a college student, haunted by a hidden past, trying desperately to remain undercover when former associates hunt him down and threaten to expose the truth about who he really is. Blake Calhoun and Mike Maden (creators of the hit Internet series “Pink”) are co-executive producers for Alternative Fuel, LLC. Calhoun directs from a story and screenplay by Maden.

            “Chadam”: Cutting-edge artist Alex Pardee and producer Jason Hall of HDFILMS Inc. are teaming up on a 3D animation project based upon Pardee’s character of the same name. Initially introduced as a character icon for the popular rock band The Used, Chadam has become an Internet phenomenon. An action-horror-adventure story filled with self-discovery, “Chadam” will come to full 3D animated life via the magic of Unreal Engine 3, the leading technology and development framework that powers cutting-edge games such as “Gears of War” and “BioShock” on today’s popular platforms, including PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

            “Joni & Susanna”: This series follows two best friends/frenemies in their 20s who redefine codependent and love to hate each other. They do everything together, know everything about each other and talk exclusively about everyone around them. Each episode tracks the couple in a different setting as they call out each other’s insecurities and try and maintain the upper hand at all times. “Joni & Susanna” stars Joni Lefkowitz and Susanna Fogel.

            TheWB.com features state-of-the-art community and social networking tools as well as editing and mixing capabilities that allow visitors to take ownership of their favorite characters and relationships. Viewers can control, customize, reorder, re-edit and reinterpret shows in a very personal way.

            In support of the launch, TheWB.com has created a new application on Facebook® Platform that will allow seamless integration of Facebook’s social utility on TheWB.com, and TheWB.com’s entertainment content on Facebook. Facebook users will have the ability to move, mix-up and share the content on TheWB.com from within their own Facebook environment, which is in keeping with WBTVG’s goal of delivering programming to viewers wherever they may be. Facebook users will be able to add TheWB.com-created application and feature video, photos and more on their profile page; watch full-length episodes or clips from their favorite series, as well as new original series created exclusively for the TheWB.com; and discuss favorite moments, story lines or characters with their network of friends within Facebook.

            Additionally, Warner Bros. Television Group has secured distribution agreements with Dailymotion, Joost, Sling Media, TiVo and Veoh Networks to feature TheWB.com programming.

            About Warner Bros. Television Group

            The Warner Bros. Television Group oversees the entire portfolio of Warner Bros. television businesses, including worldwide production, traditional and digital distribution and broadcasting. WBTVG is committed to creating, producing and distributing content across all traditional, emerging digital and future platforms in the evolving entertainment and media landscape. In the traditional television arena, WBTVG produces primetime, first-run, cable and animation series which are distributed worldwide. WBTVG is also an innovative leader in developing new business models for the evolving digital television marketplace, including ad-supported video-on-demand as well as broadband and wireless destinations featuring original content produced by WBTVG. The Group provides unmatched digital media sales opportunities tailored to clients seeking multiplatform campaigns across broadcast, cable, broadband and wireless outlets. Warner Bros. Entertainment is also a partner with CBS in The CW Television Network.

- Matt Price

– Matt Price

– Matt Price

First episode coming online at http://www.drhorrible.com on July 15 from Joss Whedon.

1.      Captain America — All Captain America had to do to have the best comic on the stands was get killed.  In “Captain America” No. 25, writer Ed Brubaker drew the attention of the nation by killing Cap.  Since the Captain’s death, the story has continued to be compelling, as Captain America’s friends and allies investigate his death.  In January, someone new will take the mantle of Captain America.

2.      Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8 — Joss Whedon continues his critically acclaimed television series “Buffy: The Vampire Slayer” in comic-book format.  With arcs written by Whedon and Brian K. Vaughan (“Y: The Last Man,” TV’s “Lost”), “Season 8” captures the wit and action of the television series, with a much lower budget. 

3.      The Sinestro Corps War  —  Geoff Johns and company showed the world how to do a superhero crossover with “Sinestro Corps War,” which ran through “Green Lantern,” “Green Lantern Corps” and four specials.   The Green Lanterns, an intergalactic peacekeeping force, find themselves stretched to their limit when Sinestro, a former Green Lantern, creates his own corps, dedicated to spreading fear throughout the galaxy.

4.      Y: The Last Man — Vaughan’s long-running saga about the last male left on earth after a plague remains one of the best science-fiction dramas of recent years.  Questions are answered and destinies uncovered as the series, drawn by Pia Guerra, heads toward its finish. (The final issue, No. 60, is set for a January release.)

5.      Local — While Brian Wood’s “Local” suffered from some delays, the issues that did hit stores were among the best of the year.  With artist Ryan Kelly, Wood explores life across the United States as each issue takes place in a different city.  “Local” No. 9, set in Norman, features main character Megan McKeenan dealing with the death of a parent.

6.      Strangers in Paradise  —  Writer-artist Terry Moore, one of the last of the 1990s self-publishers still standing, completed his epic about love and relationships, “Strangers in Paradise,” in 2007.

7.      Action Comics —  Johns and co-writer Richard Donner (director of “Superman: The Movie”) wrote an epic tale featuring the Kryptonian villains Zod, Ursa, and Non  —  and introduced a new supporting character to the Superman mythos.   With artist Eric Powell (“The Goon”), Donner and Johns reinterpreted the Bizarro World.  And, with artist Gary Frank, Johns took Superman to the future to meet up with the Legion of Super-Heroes.

8.      Booster Gold  — Spinning out of the year-long DC hit “52,” “Booster Gold” brings depth and adventure to a hero created in the 1980s that many would have assumed was played out.  Booster Gold was known in his initial incarnation for seeking fast fame and corporate sponsors, but after the events of “52,” Booster is now the only hero who can prevent certain calamities from happening to the timeline.  However, he has to continue to most to seem the same cocky jerk he was prior to the events of “52.” The book is co-written by Jeff Katz and Johns, with art by the creator of Booster Gold, Dan Jurgens.  Sort of a superhero “Quantum Leap,” Booster is motivated to try to save his best friend from death  —  but must first work with time-traveler Rip Hunter in his quest to stop disastrous events throughout time.

9.      The Brave and the Bold — Writer Mark Waid and artist George Perez create the retro blast of fun that is “Brave and Bold,” teaming up DC heroes to solve mysteries and fight crime.

10.  The Immortal Iron Fist — Brubaker and Matt Fraction, with artist David Aja, revamp Marvel’s 1970s martial arts hero Iron Fist.  The first storyline examines the history of the power known as the Iron Fist, and how it fell to hero Danny Rand, the latest in a line of warriors to wield it.

– Matt Price

Note: I cheated, as you can clearly see, by grouping a few titles together. But this ain’t rocket surgery, folks. I can do what I want. You’re not the boss of me!

1. Trials of Shazam!

Judd Winick breathes life into a character (Captain Marvel Jr.) that most people couldn’t care less about, making his three-dimensional and captivating.

2. DMZ

In the midst of the Iraq War, this comic book brings war home literally, and the adventures of Matty Roth have as much to do with the world we live in as the fictional world of a New York split apart by civil war.

3. Blue Beetle/ Booster Gold/ Checkmate

Spinning out of Infinite Crisis are three exceptional relaunches of three previously canceled series. These are the little engines that could and desperately must if only to prove that books without Superman or Batman can deliver big on story.

4. Stormwatch PHD

In the WildStorm Universe, heroes aren’t really heroes, so it’s up to normal folks like the Stormwatch Post Human Division to put them in their place. A spiritual successor to “Stormwatch: Team Achilles,” this book is entertaining from whole cloth, creating true characters out of a poorly defined world.

5. X-Factor

While the rest of the X-universe is mired in awful, dreadful continuity, only Peter David’s “X-Factor” enjoys the mutant community. Centered around Jamie Madrox’s detective agency, this book is consistently a source of big laughs and shocking twists.

6. Captain America

Captain America is dead! Long live Captain America! What could have been an unmitigated disaster (a book in which the lead character is dead) was given wings by Ed Brubaker. Add in a character many thought was a huge mistake (Bucky aka The Winter Soldier) and you’ve got a bona fide miracle.

7. Fables/ Jack of Fables

All bow down to Bill Willingham, who took one of the most simple ideas ever (What if storybook characters were real and living in New York?) and created a giant world from it. This year in “Fables” we’ve seen Flycatcher, a joke character, turned into a warrior king. Meanwhile, with Matt Sturges, “Jack of Fables” has become one of the funniest books on the shelves while adding a new layer to an already rich world.

8. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Holy God, do I love this series. Picking up where the TV show left off with creator Joss Whedon at the helm, “Buffy: Season 8″ is a wild ride that goes far beyond the budget of any movie. Dawn is a giant! The army hates Buffy! Next issue right now please!

9. Incredible Hulk

The genius of “Planet Hulk” and the follow-up “World War Hulk” is how much sense it makes. Of course The Illuminati would try to send Hulk somewhere that he would kill anybody. Of course something would go wrong and he’d end up a gladiator. Of course he’d come back, madder than ever before. The results by Greg Pak were astounding.

10. Nova

Much like Blue Beetle and Booster Gold, if you’d told me a couple years back that I’d be reading and loving Nova comics, I’d have called you a moron and questioned your human lineage. Now I have the luxury of reading Abnett and Lanning’s monthly space opera, starring a character who has really come into his own.