Joss Whedon
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Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell; born June 23, 1964) is an American screenwriter, director, producer, comic book writer, and composer. He is best known as the creator of several television series: the supernatural drama Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003) and its spinoff Angel (1999–2004), the short-lived space Western Firefly (2002), the Internet musical miniseries Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008), the science fiction drama Dollhouse (2009–2010), the Marvel Cinematic Universe film The Avengers (2012) and series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020), and the science fiction drama The Nevers (2021).
After beginning his career in sitcoms, Whedon wrote the poorly received horror comedy film Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) – which he later adapted into the acclaimed television series of the same name – co-wrote the Pixar animated film Toy Story (1995), and wrote the science fiction horror film Alien Resurrection (1997). After achieving success as a television showrunner, Whedon returned to film to write and direct the Firefly film continuation Serenity (2005), co-write and produce the horror comedy film The Cabin in the Woods (2012), and write and direct the Shakespeare adaptation Much Ado About Nothing (2012). For the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Whedon wrote and directed the ensemble superhero film The Avengers (2012) and its sequel Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). He also co-wrote the DC Extended Universe superhero film Justice League (2017), for which he also served as director for re-shoots, replacing Zack Snyder (who retained directorial credit).
Whedon has also worked as a composer (notably for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode "Once More, with Feeling" and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog) and comic book writer, both for comic book continuations of television series he created and for established franchises, such as Astonishing X-Men.
Beginning in July 2020, multiple actors, producers, and writers have spoken out against Whedon about the toxic workplace environments he had allegedly created in many of his projects. Whedon has denied any wrongdoing, while acknowledging that he can be "confrontational".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Early lifeEdit
Born on June 23, 1964, in New York City and raised on the Upper West Side as Joseph{{#if:1|1|[1]}} Hill Whedon,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=biography.com>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="born as jhw">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> he would later become a third-generation TV writer<ref name="3gTV">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> as a son of Tom Whedon, a screenwriter for Alice in the 1970s and The Golden Girls in the 1980s, and a grandson of John Whedon, who worked on The Donna Reed Show in the 1950s and The Dick Van Dyke Show and That Girl in the 1960s, as well as writing for radio shows such as The Great Gildersleeve.<ref name="NYT-2002">Template:Cite news</ref> His mother, Ann Lee (née Jeffries) Stearns, originally from Kentucky, was an activist and a teacher at Riverdale Country School as Lee Whedon,<ref>Riverdalian, (Riverdale Country School, the Bronx, yearbook), 1971, p. 17; and 1972, p. 22</ref><ref name="bookrf1">Template:Cite book</ref> in addition to being an aspiring novelist.<ref name="NYT-2002" /> Jessica Neuwirth, a former student of Stearns, has often cited her as her inspiration, describing her as a "visionary feminist".<ref name="Vulture2021">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His parents both acted, appearing in a play together at the Harvard Radcliffe Dramatic Club.<ref name="bookrf1" /> The family would spend vacations reciting Shakespeare.<ref name="Vulture2021" />
Whedon is the younger sibling of Samuel and Matthew Whedon and the older sibling of writers Jed and Zack Whedon.<ref>Rochell D. Thomas. "Is Dollhouse a family affair?" TV Guide March 16, 2009; p. 19</ref> Whedon stated that his parents expected constant creativity from their children and were often verbally demeaning and gave them the silent treatment if he and his brothers were not amusing or entertaining, or if they simply disagreed with them. He stated, however, that he was more afraid of his older brothers who constantly bullied him. At the age of 5, a friend (age 4) died by drowning in a pond on the Whedons' upstate property. His parents divorced when he was 9. Whedon cited his childhood trauma as having a direct influence in his relationships, addictions and behaviors into adulthood and has stated that he suffers from complex post traumatic stress disorder.<ref name="Vulture2021" />
At a young age, he showed great interest in British television series shows like Masterpiece and comedy group Monty Python.<ref name="british television">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Whedon attended Riverdale Country School in New York City where his mother taught history.<ref name="ROOKIE">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Starting at age 15, he spent three years at Winchester College,<ref name="three years">Template:Cite news</ref> a boarding school in England. There, taking note of omnipresent bullying, he concluded, "it was clear to me from the start that I must take an active role in my survival".<ref name="ROOKIE" /> Whedon graduated from Wesleyan University in 1987, where he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters in 2013.<ref name="decades later">Template:Cite news</ref> There, he also studied under renowned academic Richard Slotkin.<ref name="slotkin">Template:Cite magazine</ref> It was at Wesleyan he would meet Jeanine Basinger, a film scholar who became his mentor.<ref name="Vulture2021" /> After leaving Wesleyan, Whedon conceived the first incarnation of Buffy Summers, "Rhonda, the Immortal Waitress".<ref name="The Courant">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
CareerEdit
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1980s–1990sEdit
Early workEdit
From 1989 to 1990, Whedon worked as a staff writer on the sitcoms Roseanne and Parenthood.<ref name="COMICBOOK.(com); television">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="io9; television">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As a script doctor, Whedon was an uncredited writer on films including The Getaway, Speed, Waterworld, and Twister.<ref name="A.V. CLUB; film">Template:Cite news</ref> Whedon worked on an early draft of X-Men which subsequently contained at least two of his contributions to dialogue exchanges,<ref name="TOTAL FILM; film">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> while the final cut of Speed retained most of his dialogue.<ref name="HighBeam RESEARCH; film">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> While he was script consulting, he also wrote Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the film that would precede the series), Alien Resurrection and early drafts for Titan A.E. and Atlantis: The Lost Empire<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> – but would subsequently express strong dissatisfaction with the released versions of the first three of these films.<ref name="A.V. CLUB; film"/><ref name="alien resurrection"/><ref name="THE MARY SUE; film">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He co-wrote Toy Story, which earned him a shared Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.<ref name="io9; film">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="alien resurrection">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="BAFTA FILM; film">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He became one of the highest paid screenwriters when he sold his Afterlife script to Columbia Pictures for $1.5 million.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Buffy the Vampire SlayerEdit
In 1997, Whedon created his first television series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.{{#if:2|2|[2]}} The series depicts Buffy Summers, the latest in a line of young women called to battle against vampires, demons, and other forces of darkness. The idea came directly from his aversion to seeing the Hollywood formula of "the little blonde girl who goes into a dark alley and gets killed in every horror movie".<ref name="STARBURST">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Whedon said he wanted to subvert the idea and create someone who was a hero.<ref name="LOS ANGELES REVIEW OF BOOKS">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This conception came from "the very first mission statement of the show, which was the joy of female power: having it, using it, sharing it".<ref name="metroactive">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The writing process came together from conversations about the emotional issues facing Buffy Summers, and how she would confront them in her battle against supernatural forces.<ref name="CNN; wp">Template:Cite news</ref> Whedon usually directed episodes from his own scripts that held the most cathartic moments in Buffy's story.<ref name="DigitalSpy.; episodes">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="TOR*COM; episodes">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="BADASS DIGEST; episodes">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The series received numerous awards and nominations, including an Emmy Award nomination for writing for the 1999 episode "Hush".<ref name="MOVIEPILOT; hush">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The 2001 episode "The Body" was nominated for a Nebula Award in 2002,<ref name="The LOCUS Index to SF Awards; The Body">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the fall 2001 musical episode "Once More, with Feeling" was nominated for a Best Dramatic Presentation Hugo Award and a Best Script Nebula Award.<ref name="The Hugo Awards">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="The LOCUS Index to SF Awards; Once More, with Feeling">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The final episode "Chosen" was nominated for a Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form Hugo Award in 2003.<ref name="LOCUSonline">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> All written and directed by Whedon, they are considered some of the most effective and popular episodes of the series.<ref name="DEN of GEEK">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="SciFiNow">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
A. Asbjørn Jøn, an anthropologist and scholar, recognized that the series has shifted the way vampires have since been depicted in popular culture representations.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Since the end of the series, Whedon has stated that his initial intention was to produce a "cult" television series and acknowledged a corresponding "rabid, almost insane fan base" that subsequently emerged. In June 2012, Slate identified it as the most written about popular culture text of all time. "[M]ore than twice as many papers, essays, and books have been devoted to the vampire drama than any of our other choices—so many that we stopped counting when we hit 200".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Whedon, a lifelong comic book fan, authored the Dark Horse Comics miniseries Fray, which takes place in the far future of the Buffyverse.<ref name="CBR; comic books">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Like many writers of the show, he contributed to the series' comic book continuation, writing for the anthology Tales of the Slayers,<ref name="DARK HORSE; tales of the slayers">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and also for the main storyline of the miniseries Tales of the Vampires.<ref name="DARK HORSE; tales of the vampires">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Whedon and the other writers released a new ongoing series, taking place after the series finale "Chosen", which he officially recognizes as the canonical eighth season.<ref name="Entertainment WEEKLY; season eight">Template:Cite magazine</ref> He returned to the world of Fray during the season eight-story arc "Time of Your Life".<ref name="DARK HORSE; comic books">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine was published from August 2011 to September 2013,<ref name="DARK HORSE; freefall">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="DARK HORSE; the core">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> for which Whedon wrote "Freefall, Part I–II" (with Andrew Chambliss).<ref name="CBR; freefall">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
AngelEdit
As a result of the success of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Whedon was given the opportunity to make Angel, his 1999 spin-off series of the show. David Greenwalt and Whedon collaborated on the pilot which was going to be developed for The WB Network.<ref name="SALON">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During the series' early expansion, efforts were made by the network to mitigate Whedon's original concept. "Corrupt", a precociously optioned second episode, was entirely abandoned due to the gloominess written into the script.<ref name="blastr; corrupt">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The tone was then softened in the opening episodes, establishing Angel Investigations as an idealistic, shoestring operation. It follows Angel, who works as a private detective in order to "help the helpless".<ref name="DEN OF GEEK; hth">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Though praised for presenting a unique and progressive version of the archetypal noir hero as a sympathetic vampire detective,<ref name="Entertainment WEEKLY; vd">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="HUFF POST; vd">Template:Cite news</ref> early in its run it was criticized as being lesser than its parent show, in the context of having devolved from a more popular original work.<ref name="The INDEPENDENT">Template:Cite news</ref> Despite that it won a Saturn Award for Best Network TV Series<ref name="THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE FICTION FANTASY & HORROR FILMS">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and three episodes, "Waiting in the Wings",<ref name="SF Site">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Smile Time" and "Not Fade Away", were nominated for Hugo Awards for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form in 2003 and 2005.<ref name="LOCUS online">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The WB Network announced on February 13, 2004, that Angel would not be brought back for a sixth season.<ref name="IGN; cancellation">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Whedon said of the cancellation, "I believe the reason Angel had trouble on The WB was that it was the only show on the network that wasn't trying to be Buffy. It was a show about grown-ups".<ref name="EW.com; cancellation">Template:Cite magazine</ref> An official continuation of the story came later in the form of a comic book series.<ref name="IDW PUBLISHING; Angel comic">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Following the successful eighth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, IDW Publishing approached Whedon about similarly producing a canonical sixth season for Angel.<ref name="VULTURE; angel: after the fall">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="IDW; angel: after the fall">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Angel: After the Fall released 17 issues written by Whedon and Brian Lynch.<ref name="IDW; angel: after the fall 2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2000sEdit
FireflyEdit
Whedon followed Angel with the space western Firefly, starring Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Sean Maher, Summer Glau and Ron Glass.<ref name="Deseret News">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Set in the year 2517,<ref name="in the year 2517">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Firefly explores the lives of the people who while on the outskirts of society, make their living as the crew of Serenity, a "Firefly-class" spaceship.<ref name="theguardian; Firefly">Template:Cite news</ref> The series' original concept progressed after Whedon read The Killer Angels, a book on the Battle of Gettysburg.<ref name="Deseret News" /><ref name="the killer angels">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
An ever-present element was Whedon's injection of anti-totalitarianism,<ref name="CULTURE MASS">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> writing into the show a historical analogy of the Battle of Gettysburg, the "Battle of Serenity Valley".{{#if:3|3|[3]}}<ref name="LAWEEKLY; firefly">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The beaten soldiers were called "Browncoats" after the brown dusters they wore as their uniforms.<ref name="PCMAG.com">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="San Francisco Chronicle" /> Whedon said, "I wanted to play with that classic notion of the frontier: not the people who made history, but the people history stepped on—the people for whom every act is the creation of civilization".<ref name="The New York Times">Template:Cite news</ref> Firefly was written as a serious character study,<ref name="The New York Times; religious and philosophical views" /> encompassing what Whedon called "life when it's hard". He went on to elaborate that it was about "nine people looking into the blackness of space and seeing nine different things".<ref name="jam! SHOWBIZ">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Fox chose to play the episodes of the series out of order, running "The Train Job" first, and not airing the pilot until a dozen episodes later, resulting in some confusion from viewers. The series was also promoted as a comedy, not a science fiction drama, and placed in the infamous "Friday night death slot". The show was praised by critics overall, but some objected to the fusion of American frontier and outer space motifs.<ref name="San Francisco Chronicle; Firefly">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="The New York Times; Firefly">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="other respects">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Faced with these hurdles, the show had an average of 4.7 million viewers at the time and was ranked 98th in Nielsen ratings. The series was cancelled by Fox before all of the episodes had aired.<ref name="E; Firefly">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Whedon took to Universal Pictures as a means of achieving a continuation of the story.<ref name="the weekly Standard">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Following Firefly was Serenity, a follow-up film taking place after the events of the final episode.<ref name="THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER; fs">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Serenity developed into a franchise that led to graphic novels, books and other media.<ref name="COMICS ALLIANCE; eu">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="books">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="other media">Template:Cite magazine</ref> New Scientist magazine held a poll in 2005 to find "The World's Best Space Sci-Fi Ever", and Firefly and Serenity took first and second place, respectively.<ref name="NewScientist">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It also received an Emmy shortly after its cancellation, as well as a number of other awards. Since being canceled, Firefly has attained cult status.<ref name="The State Press; Firefly">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Marvel ComicsEdit
In 2004, Whedon created the comic book line Astonishing X-Men.<ref name="in 2004">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="New York ENTERTAINMENT; astonishing x-men">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He finished a 24 issue run in 2008 and then handed over the reins as a writer to Warren Ellis.<ref name="24 issue run">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="the writing reins">Template:Cite news</ref> One storyline from the comic, the notion of a cure for mutation being found, was also an element in the third X-Men film, X-Men: The Last Stand.<ref name="CBR; astonishing x-men">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="COMINGSOON .NET; astonishing x-men">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In February 2009 Astonishing X-Men #6, which depicted the return of Colossus to the title and concluded Whedon's first story arc, was named by readers as #65 in Marvel's Top 70 Comics of all time.<ref name="MARVEL; top 70">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Taking over after series creator Brian K. Vaughan completed his run on the series, Whedon became the second writer of the Marvel comic Runaways.<ref name="Rolling Stone; runaways">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Having already been a committed reader, he had a letter published in the first volume, which was included in the Volume 1 hardcover edition.<ref name="IGN; runaways">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also wrote short pieces for Stan Lee Meets Spider-Man and Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1,<ref name="stan lee meets spider-man">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="MARVEL; giant size x-men">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and he was the subject of an issue of the comic book, Marvel Spotlight (alongside artist Michael Lark).<ref name="COMIC VINE; marvel spotlight">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As part of a panel of writers, he contributed to Marvel Comics' Civil War crossover event lending advice on how to tell the story and also how to end it.<ref name="IGN; civil war">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In March 2016, Whedon contributed a story for the 75th anniversary issue of Captain America: Sam Wilson with Astonishing X-Men collaborator John Cassaday.<ref name="guardian; captain america 75">Template:Cite news</ref> He introduced several new characters into the Marvel Universe such as the villainous Ord,<ref name="MARVEL; ord">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> X-Men Ruth "Blindfold" Aldine and Hisako "Armor" Ichiki,<ref name="MARVEL; blindfold">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="MARVEL; armor">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Runaway Klara Prast,<ref name="COMIC VINE; klara prast">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Special Agent Abigail Brand along with S.W.O.R.D., the organization Brand commands.<ref name="COMIC VINE; abigail brand">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="COMIC VINE; s.w.o.r.d.">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
SerenityEdit
After Universal Pictures acquired the film and distribution rights from Fox, Whedon began writing the screenplay for Serenity.<ref name="film rights">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="IGN; Serenity">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Transforming the series into a film, he says, "... was the hardest piece of writing I've ever done ... It had to be self-contained and work as a movie, which meant I had to cope with problems like introducing nine main characters who'd already met!"<ref name="FILM; Serenity">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="SFFWORLD.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The script was based on unused story ideas for FireflyTemplate:'s unfilmed second season.<ref name="THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER; fs" /> On writing the dialogue, Whedon felt that part of it came from "getting to invent the language", which "once I had... reads like a kind of poetry".<ref name="Response; Serenity">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The narrative centered on Captain Malcolm Reynolds as the hero accompanied by River Tam acting as the catalyst for what he does.<ref name="ARCHIVE; Serenity">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The score was composed by David Newman, and according to Whedon was intended to "deglorify space — to feel the intimacy of being on a ship as opposed to the grandeur".<ref name="The New York Times; Serenity">Template:Cite news</ref> He used two long steadicam shots for several minutes of the film's opening sequence to establish "a sense of safety in space".<ref name="STEADIVISION">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="PAJIBA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2006, it won a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form.<ref name="LOCUSonline; Serenity">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The elements of science fiction that Whedon wanted to convey were essentially different in kind, and held "a sort of grittiness" and "realism", which he said, together, "get the most exciting kind of film-making".<ref name="BBC; Serenity">Template:Cite news</ref> Critic Roger Ebert observed, "Like Brave New World and 1984, the movie plays like a critique of contemporary society, with the Alliance as Big Brother, enemy of discontent".<ref name="Roger Ebert.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The film received the 2005 Nebula Award for Best Script, the 2006 Prometheus Special Award,<ref name="SFWA; Serenity">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Libertarian Futurist Society">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and was voted the best sci-fi movie of all time in a poll set up by SFX magazine.<ref name="BBC; Serenity" /> There have since been multiple rumors regarding sequel possibilities.<ref name="ZDNet News">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="About.com; Serenity">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The limited three-issue comic book series called Serenity: Those Left Behind, the story of which was written by Whedon,<ref name="Trove; comic books">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> was released in 2005 as a tie-in to Serenity. Set between Firefly and the film, it was intended to connect the two storylines.<ref name="tie in">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Serenity: Better Days also spanned three issues<ref name="Dark Horse; comic books #3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and was written by Whedon and Brett Matthews.<ref name="CBR; comic books #2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Whedon later co-wrote The Shepherd's Tale with his half-brother Zack.<ref name="COMICMIX; the shepherd's tale">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Freelance directing and Sugarshock!Edit
As a guest director, he contributed two 2007 episodes of The Office ("Business School" and "Branch Wars")<ref name="IF MAGAZINE; television">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="branch wars">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and a 2010 episode of Glee ("Dream On").<ref name="Entertainment WEEKLY; television">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Denoting this period, Whedon has said, "I had free time, but I'm pretty sure I mean my career was on the skids".<ref name="PopMatters; further work">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In collaboration with Fábio Moon, Whedon created the free webcomic titled Sugarshock!, as part of the revival of Dark Horse Presents, which was launched on Myspace.<ref name="AFTERELLEN; online media">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Whedon later executive produced another free comic book on the Internet, Serenity: The Other Half.<ref name="DARK HORSE; online media">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along BlogEdit
As a response to the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike,<ref name="The New York Times; Dr. Horrible">Template:Cite news</ref> Whedon directed, co-wrote and produced Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.<ref name="horrible credits">Template:Cite magazine</ref> It tells the story of Dr. Horrible, an aspiring supervillain, who shares a love interest in a girl named Penny with his nemesis, Captain Hammer.<ref name="Written By.; Dr. Horrible">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> To Whedon the miniseries was "a project of love", an accomplishment that from their excitement would be embellished with passion and "ridiculousness".<ref name="tubefilter; Dr. Horrible">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His half-brothers Zack and Jed and sister-in-law Maurissa Tancharoen share the other writing credits.<ref name="other horrible credits">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Whedon said it was a "glorious surprise" to him to discover how well they worked together.<ref name="The Washington Post; Dr. Horrible">Template:Cite news</ref>
After having attended meetings with companies discussing the prospect of producing something for the Internet and faced with negative feedback on his ideas, he realized that as long as the strike was still in progress, acquiring corporate funding was an unlikely prospect.<ref name="The New York Times; Dr. Horrible" /> Whedon himself funded the project investing just over $200,000<ref name="Written By.; Dr. Horrible" /> and earned more from it than he did directing The Avengers.<ref name="earned more">Template:Cite news</ref> He enjoyed the independence he gained from Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog as it provided him the freedom to include content without the expectancy of lessening it on behalf of the runtime.<ref name="tubefilter; Dr. Horrible" /> He and Jed composed the music, parts of which were influenced by Stephen Sondheim.<ref name="VULTURE; Dr. Horrible">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The miniseries was nominated and won numerous awards. Whedon was awarded Best Directing and Best Writing for a Comedy Web Series at the Streamy Awards,<ref name="STREAMY AWARDS; Dr. Horrible">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form,<ref name="best dramatic presentation">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and a Creative Arts Emmy Award in 2009.<ref name="npr; Dr. Horrible">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
DollhouseEdit
In 2009, Whedon created his fourth television series, Dollhouse, and explored themes throughout the show that were initially present in an unproduced spec script of his called Afterlife.<ref name="io9; Dollhouse">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The series follows Echo, whose brain is programmed to accomplish various assignments, on her journey towards self-awareness.<ref name="active">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="IGN; Dollhouse">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As stated by Whedon, Dollhouse was about "the sides of us that we don't want people to see", sexuality<ref name="Chicago Tribune; Dollhouse">Template:Cite news</ref> and, on some level, a celebration of perversion,<ref name="SciFiNow; Dollhouse">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which he equates to obsession, "the thing that makes people passionate and interesting and worthy".<ref name="W I R E D; Dollhouse">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Despite low ratings in its first season, the series was renewed for a second and final season. The reason for the renewal given by Fox's president of entertainment was to avoid any backlash that would have resulted from its cancelation.<ref name="THE Hollywood REPORTER; Dollhouse">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="blastr; Dollhouse">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In reflection of Fox's disruptive involvement, Whedon lamented the loss of ideas with identity and moral culpability, saying they were dancing around them in the process<ref name="W I R E D; Dollhouse" /> which then devolved the series into a procedural show.<ref name="Chicago Tribune; Dollhouse" />
2010sEdit
The Cabin in the WoodsEdit
Whedon co-wrote and produced a horror-comedy film titled The Cabin in the Woods with director Drew Goddard, finishing production in 2009 though the film was not released until 2011.<ref name="DEN OF GEEK!; fp">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Whedon and Goddard intended to make a film that exemplified horror movies while still preserving the fun and frightening elements necessary to being a horror film.<ref name="EW.com; The Cabin in the Woods">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The script was written in three days<ref name="COLLIDER.com; The Cabin in the Woods script">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and they produced a minimum of 15 pages a day.<ref name="DEN of GEEK!; The Cabin in the Woods">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Whedon described it as an attempt to revitalize horror, calling it a "loving hate letter" to the genre, continuing:
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Whedon thought part of what distinguished it from other horror films was that people were not disposable – "As a culture, for our own entertainment, we tend to assume that they are (expendable)".<ref name="HOLLYWOOD; The Cabin in the Woods">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He reiterated a sentiment that the introduction of torture porn into this genre was becoming an exercise in nihilism and misogyny as a means to promote distress and instead of trying to scare its audience.<ref name="GQ; The Cabin in the Woods">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Marvel StudiosEdit
In July 2010, it was confirmed that Whedon would write and direct The Avengers, a live-action adaptation of the superhero team of the same name.<ref name="/Film; The Avengers">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Of his desire to take on the film, he explained that the core of the movie was about "finding yourself from community" and the togetherness derived from a group that ultimately doesn't belong together.<ref name="io9; The Avengers">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
It became the third-highest-grossing film of all time at the North American box office back in 2012,<ref name="Box Office Mojo; Avengers Assemble">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and it received considerable praise from critics.<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes; The Avengers">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="metacritic; The Avengers">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In retrospect, Whedon thought the film had "imperfections",<ref name="SCREENRANT; ta">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> begrudging its quality in comparison to that of The Matrix and The Godfather Part II. Nonetheless, he felt he "pulled off" the endeavor of making a summer movie reminiscent of those from his childhood.<ref name="theguardian; ta">Template:Cite news</ref>
In March 2012, Whedon stated that although television involves more compromise than film:
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In August 2012, Whedon signed a deal to develop the Marvel TV show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for ABC.<ref name="SUPERHEROHYPE; Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="io9; Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The series focuses on the secret military law-enforcement agency featured throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe.<ref name="DEADLINE; Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Created by Whedon, Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen,<ref name="Playlist; Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. #2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the show involves individuals who possess powers within the spectacle of science fiction, while also focusing on "the peripheral people ... the people on the edges of the grand adventures."<ref name="MTV; Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The character Phil Coulson was resurrected after his death in The Avengers to helm the show.<ref name="io9; aos">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Whedon spoke about certain complications that factored in with making the show for Marvel, noting confusion between him and the company regarding the degree to which they wanted him to create it, citing their demand that he prioritize Avengers: Age of Ultron.<ref name="you moron">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He once expressed regrets for having brought back Phil Coulson, feeling that his death had lost meaning as a result,<ref name="AVClub2015">Template:Cite news</ref> but later clarified that he did not regret this decision.<ref name="CosmicBN" />
Whedon returned to write and direct the sequel to The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron,<ref name="SUPERHEROHYPE; Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." /><ref name="THE Hollywood REPORTER; The Avengers 2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> following the deal with Marvel Studios, which expired in June 2015.<ref name="CINEMA BLEND COM; The Avengers 2 #2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On the matter of approaching a sequel, Whedon reasoned not to go "bigger" but "deeper", and likened it to digging with a scalpel to cause pain.<ref name="digital spy; The Avengers 2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He said of the film's characters, "Strong but damaged by power describes every person in this movie. It may, in fact, describe what the movie is about ... the more power that we have, the less human we are."<ref name="power">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Whedon discerns that Age of Ultron "is an odd film"<ref name="hardest work">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> that proved challenging when it came to finding the rhythm between both its calm and exciting moments. Drawing parallels to a symphony, he wanted to bring about "grace in the middle of ultimate chaos".<ref name="RAAAAAAH">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Whedon also served as a creative consultant on the films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe leading up to Age of Ultron.<ref name="Deadline Consultant">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="GQ Consultant">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He rewrote some dialogue for Thor: The Dark World,<ref name="Thor The Dark World">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> directed the mid-credits scene of Captain America: The Winter Soldier,<ref name="Captain America The Winter Soldier">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and suggested that James Gunn make Guardians of the Galaxy "weirder" after reading an early draft.<ref name="Guardians of the Galaxy">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Whedon said it was unlikely that he would return to make another sequel, stating that he "couldn't imagine doing this again".<ref name="unlikelysequel">Template:Cite news</ref> He remarked that not having created his own fictional universe in over five years felt wrong<ref name="that feels wrong">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and intended to use the proceeds made from Avengers: Age of Ultron for such ventures.<ref name="earned more" /> In January 2016, Whedon announced that he would no longer work with Marvel.<ref name="CosmicBN">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige would be cited in MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, released in October 2023, that he would never work again with Whedon.<ref name="MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios">Template:Cite book</ref>
Much Ado About NothingEdit
To create Much Ado About Nothing in 2012, Whedon established Bellwether Pictures.<ref name="IW">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He filmed it in black-and-white on digital video over a period of 12 days at his residence in Santa Monica, California.<ref name="LENSBABY; Much Ado">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="COLLIDER.COM; Much Ado">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The film was scripted, produced, directed, edited and composed by Whedon, based on William Shakespeare's play of the same name.<ref name="much ado credits">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His idea to adapt the play for the screen originated from having "Shakespeare readings" at his house with several of his friends, years prior.<ref name="VULTURE; Much Ado">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Despite the play's comedy, he discovered that there were elements in the text "of debauchery" that brought out a core darkness, and said the visual nature of film influenced him to permeate a motif of sexuality into the script.<ref name="LeakyNEWS; Much Ado">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In Your Eyes and TwistEdit
Whedon wrote and executive produced the paranormal romance film In Your Eyes, the second feature by Bellwether Pictures.<ref name="COLLIDER.com; In Your Eyes">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="TGDAILY; In Your Eyes">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The film tells the story of Rebecca Porter and Dylan Kershaw, who can feel each other's emotions but are ultimately strangers.<ref name="ultimately strangers">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Whedon's script marked a theme of human connection as the metaphor for the couple's mysterious link.<ref name="Indiewood Hollywoodn't; in your eyes">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He conceived the idea in the early 1990s, and had written drafts of the screenplay since then.<ref name="CRAVEONLINE; in your eyes">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In summer 2014, Whedon encountered artist Shawnee Kilgore on Kickstarter. Whedon funded her album and when Kilgore contacted him about his fulfillment reward, he suggested they make a song together. She agreed, and the collaboration was later repurposed into producing an EP.<ref name="BuzzFeed; ep collaboration">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
At the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con, Whedon announced Twist, which was described as a comic book about "a Victorian female Batman".<ref name="victorian female batman">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2017, Whedon directed Unlocked, a short film in support of Planned Parenthood.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Subscription required</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>
Justice LeagueEdit
In May 2017, Whedon took over post-production duties for Justice League, including writing and directing additional photography for the film.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He received a co-writing credit for his contributions to the film, which was released in November 2017. Despite reshooting a majority of the film and largely changing the tone from what Zack Snyder had originally intended, Snyder retained sole credit as director of the film.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After Snyder's original cut was released in 2021, fans began to refer to the theatrical cut as the "Whedon Cut"<ref name="WhedonCutBundle">Multiple sources; see, for example:
- Template:Cite news
- Template:Cite news
- Template:Cite news
- Template:Cite news</ref> and "Josstice League".<ref name="JossticeLeague">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2020sEdit
The NeversEdit
On July 13, 2018, HBO announced that the network had obtained the rights to The Nevers, an "epic science fiction drama about a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies, and a mission that might change the world", on which Whedon was going to serve as writer, director, executive producer, and showrunner.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Production on the series started in July 2019 in London, with scenes filmed at Trinity Church Square and the New Wimbledon Theatre area.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> By 2020, production was completed on five episodes before being shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only resuming in September of that year to complete six of the season's ten-episode order.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On November 25, 2020, HBO announced that Whedon had exited the project.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Accusations of workplace harassmentEdit
In July 2020, Justice League actor Ray Fisher accused Whedon of showing "gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable" behavior toward the cast and crew of the film,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> going so far as to invite Whedon to sue him for slander if he believed the allegations were untrue.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A virtual panel for the 2020 at-home San Diego Comic-Con focusing on Whedon's work was cancelled following Fisher's statements.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The following month, it was reported that WarnerMedia had begun an investigation into Whedon's behavior during the production of Justice League.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Jason Momoa posted in support of Fisher, writing about "the shitty way [they] were treated" on Justice League reshoots and saying that "serious stuff went down".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In December 2020, WarnerMedia announced that its investigation had concluded and that "remedial action" had been taken.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Fisher also claimed that Whedon's exit from the HBO Max series The Nevers was a result of HBO parent company WarnerMedia's inquiry. He said on Twitter that "I have no intention of allowing Joss Whedon to use the old Hollywood tactic of 'exitingTemplate:'" and claimed, "This is undoubtedly a result of [the investigation]."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> HBO had announced on November 25, 2020, that the company had "parted ways" with Whedon, and Whedon released his own statement, claiming the departure was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> HBO chief Casey Bloys declined to elaborate on the decision to part ways,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> but said HBO had received no complaints about Whedon's behavior.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Nonetheless, in what Bloys acknowledged was an unusual step, Whedon's name has not been used in marketing for the series,<ref name="cbr.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="hollywoodreporter.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> though he remained credited in the series itself.
Gal Gadot told the Los Angeles Times in December 2020 that her experience with Whedon had not been "the best" but that she had taken it "to the higher-ups and they took care of it".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Grace Randolph later reported that Whedon had asked Gadot to film a sexually charged scene in Justice League, but that Gadot had refused and a body double was used in her place.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In February 2021, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel actress Charisma Carpenter alleged that Whedon had "abused his power on numerous occasions", calling him a "vampire" and "casually cruel". In a tweeted statement, Carpenter said that Whedon had called her "fat" and asked her "if [she] was going to keep it" upon learning of her pregnancy, mocked her religious faith, and repeatedly threatened to fire her, which he ultimately did. Carpenter also revealed that she had participated in WarnerMedia's Justice League investigation.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Buffy co-stars Amber Benson and Michelle Trachtenberg corroborated Carpenter's allegations. On social media, Benson wrote: "Buffy was a toxic environment and it starts at the top. [Carpenter] is speaking truth". Trachtenberg wrote that "we know what he did" and alleged that his behavior toward her when she was a teenager was, "Very. Not. Appropriate." Trachtenberg later stated on social media that there was a rule on set preventing Whedon from being in a room alone with her.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Buffy star Sarah Michelle Gellar also lent her support and distanced herself from Whedon.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Jose Molina, a writer on Firefly, also spoke out against Whedon's behavior saying that "casually cruel" was a "perfect" description and that "He thought being mean was funny. Making female writers cry during a notes session was especially hysterical. He actually liked to boast about the time he made one writer cry twice in one meeting."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Other Buffy and Angel costars voiced their support for the alleged victims including David Boreanaz, James Marsters, Anthony Stewart Head, Eliza Dushku, J. August Richards, and Amy Acker.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref><ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref> Marsters said, however, that he thought that Whedon's intensity toward the Buffy cast was because "he put an enormous amount of pressure on himself ... trying to accomplish something that was a very high bar".<ref name="insideofyou20210922">Template:Cite podcast</ref>
In April 2021, in light of Fisher's accusations, Gadot told The Hollywood Reporter that "I had my issues with Whedon and Warner Bros handled it in a timely manner."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A knowledgeable source stated that Gadot "had multiple concerns with the revised version of the film, including issues about her character being more aggressive than her character in Wonder Woman. She wanted to make the character flow from one movie to the next,Template:'" the report said. "The biggest clash, sources say, came when Whedon pushed Gadot to record lines she didn't like, threatened to harm Gadot's career and disparaged Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The following month, Gadot added that Whedon "threatened" her career during the reshoots, saying, "if I did something, he would make my career miserable and I just took care of it instead."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In October of that year, Gadot went on to say that she was "shocked" by the way Whedon spoke to her, adding, "You're dizzy because you can't believe this was just said to you. And if he says it to me, then obviously he says it to many other people."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In January 2022, Whedon claimed Gadot "misunderstood" him due to English not being her first language and called Fisher a "bad actor in both senses". He also said he had never worked with "a ruder group of people" than the rest of the Justice League cast.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Gadot responded to this by stating that she "understood perfectly" and would not work with Whedon again in the future.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In October 2023, screenwriter Zak Penn wrote in the book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios that during the process of writing the script for The Avengers and finding a director for the project, "All the other directors we had been talking about, Joss wasn't on the list. I heard he was going to rewrite the script himself. He didn't even want to meet with me – which, by the way, I always call the writer I'm replacing. I feel like that's courtesy." When Penn reached out to Whedon personally, "He said to me, 'No, it's not awkward for me. I'm rewriting you.' It became pretty apparent that he had less than zero interest in, in any way, having me involved with the movie." Penn also called Whedon, "a d*ck" as well as "a bad person."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Unrealized projectsEdit
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Early in his career, Whedon sold two spec scripts that were not produced, Suspension and Afterlife. He sold Suspension for $750,000, with an additional $250,000 if production had commenced.<ref name="suspension afterlife">Template:Cite news</ref> In September 2014, Empire suggested the script was being made, with Liam Neeson attached to the project.<ref name="EMPIRE; suspension">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1994, he sold Afterlife for $1.5 million, with an additional $500,000 if production had commenced. In 2000, Andy Tennant was in talks to direct and rewrite.<ref name="afterlife sold">Template:Cite news</ref> In Afterlife there were precursors to themes Whedon would later explore in Dollhouse. The script was about Daniel Hoffstetter, a government scientist, who awakes after dying to discover his mind has been imprinted on a mind-wiped body.<ref name="afterlife script">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Whedon had a number of planned Buffy the Vampire Slayer spinoffs that became stuck in development or terminally stalled. Among these were Buffy the Animated Series, a set of television movies for The WB based on Angel and Buffy characters,<ref name="buffy the animated series">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="television movies">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> a Spike spin-off film,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Ripper, a proposed BBC pilot about Rupert Giles.<ref name="ripper">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Goners was announced in 2005. According to Variety magazine, it was a fantasy thriller under development by Universal Pictures, and was to be produced by Mary Parent and Scott Stuber.<ref name="Fleming">Template:Cite news</ref> From a 2006 interview with Fanboy Radio: "I've been seeing a lot of horror movies that are torture porn, where kids we don't care about are mutilated for hours, and I just cannot abide them... it's an antidote to that very kind of film, the horror movie with the expendable human beings in it. Because I don't believe any human beings are".<ref name="Fanboy">Template:Cite news</ref>
Whedon was hired to write and direct a Warner Bros. adaptation of Wonder Woman. However, in February 2007, Whedon announced that he would no longer be involved with the project. "We just saw different movies, and at the price range this kind of movie hangs in, that's never gonna work. Non-sympatico. [sic] It happens all the time".<ref name="MTV news; ww">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Conversely, he stated, "the fact of the matter is, it was a waste of my time. We never [wanted] to make the same movie; none of us knew that".<ref name="Entertainment WEEKLY; Wonder Woman">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Whedon also pitched a screenplay to adapt Batman for the same company as development started on what would eventually become Batman Begins.<ref name="batman begins">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was described as having included a new, "more of a 'Hannibal Lecter' type" villain, and portrayed Bruce Wayne as "a morbid, death-obsessed kid" whose grief was overcome by protecting a girl from being bullied in an alley similar to where his parents were murdered.<ref name="death-obsessed">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In March 2017, Whedon was in negotiations to direct, write, and produce Batgirl set in the DC Extended Universe.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He withdrew from the project in February 2018, saying he didn't have a story for the movie.<ref name="variety-batgirl-exit">Template:Cite news</ref>
The sequel to Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog has been shelved on multiple occasions. In 2009, Whedon remarked upon the possibility of presenting it in the form of another miniseries or a feature film.<ref name="in the form of">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The script was planned to be written in summer 2012 and the principal photography to take place the following year.<ref name="horrible script">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="horrible shoot">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, production was delayed because of his commitment to projects at Marvel Studios.<ref name="horrible marvel">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Wastelanders, a web-based "end-of-the-world" project, once in development with author Warren Ellis, was postponed due to Whedon's preoccupation with The Avengers.<ref name="Entertainment WEEKLY; Wastelanders">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Themes, style and influencesEdit
Template:Quote box Thematically, Whedon's work often explores perspectives on existentialism,<ref name="DEN of GEEK!; religious and philosophical views" /> anti-authoritarianism,<ref name="CULTURE MASS" /> free will,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> power,<ref name="metroactive" /> powerlessness, sexuality,<ref name="human sexuality">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> adulthood, sacrifice, atheism, misogyny and feminism.<ref name="heraldscotland" /><ref name="GQ; The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth, Page 2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="misogyny 1" /><ref name="AFTERELLEN; feminism" /> His projects usually revolve around an ensemble of protagonists,<ref name="Los Angeles Times">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Forbes">Template:Cite news</ref> primarily focused on a loner hero who ends up working with others to accomplish a goal.<ref name="Journal Star">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He says of the recurring aspects of community, "Everything I write tends to turn into a superhero team, even if I didn't mean for it to. I always start off wanting to be solitary, because a) it's simpler, and b) that isolation is something that I relate to as a storyteller. And then no matter what, I always end up with a team".<ref name="GQ; The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth, Page 4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Examining a typical motif, he says, "I tend to write about people who are helpless or out of control who then regain or retake control".<ref name="heraldscotland">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Articulating his approach to screenwriting, Whedon has noted outlining and act structure as the hardest parts of storytelling, but emphasizes that he feels they are "completely essential".<ref name="W I R E D; style, themes and influences">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="FSR">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Many of Whedon's altered phrases and heavily popularized words have entered a common usage called "Slayer Slang", which PBS included an entire section of in their article series Do You Speak American?.<ref name="PBS">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In an issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, where Buffy travels to the future, Whedon writes Buffy's reaction to the future dialect of Manhattan; this allows Whedon to comment on the series' distinctive style of dialogue; "Buffy blames herself for what's happened to the English language, and there's a lot of hubris in that joke. I like to think that adding Y's to words that don't usually have Y's is going to destroy the whole fabric of our society".<ref name="MTV.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His use of self-aware dialogue to humanize characters,<ref name="Entertainment WEEKLY; self-aware dialogue">Template:Cite magazine</ref> which relies heavily on dry humor and subtext,<ref name="self-referential">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="heavy emphasis">Template:Cite news</ref> treating clichés subversively,<ref name="Entertainment WEEKLY; subversive storytelling">Template:Cite magazine</ref> using misogyny to define the trait of a villain,<ref name="misogyny 1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="misogyny 2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the recurring theme of self-sacrifice led by subverting moral icons have been defining to his style of storytelling.<ref name="Entertainment WEEKLY; subversive storytelling"/>
His penchant to kill off characters has been widely acknowledged.<ref name="CBR; style, themes and influences">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="io9; style, themes and influences">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Whedon responded to the criticism,<ref name="AVClub2015" /><ref name="tiredness">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> saying, "The percentage of people who die... is a lot. I think it's pretty near everybody. The percentage of people that I kill—not so many. I think the reason that my rep is so nasty is that I tend to do it... unexpectedly, or to someone people are recently invested in, and that is a real mission statement for me, because, death doesn't leave a card. Death doesn't take Hitler. It doesn't work according to story plans, and when a death feels like a loss, gives you grief... then you have told a story that involves death."<ref name="NERD MACHINE">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Dramatic effect is used to convey the sense of realism and shock value that comes from fatal circumstances.<ref name="io9; style, themes and influences" />
Whedon has kept ambivalent on whether to shoot on film or digital video, saying that he has "no allegiance to film as film. If the story is in front of me, I'm fine".<ref name="COLLIDER.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In terms of visual aesthetics, he prefers to incorporate as many practical effects as possible when using computer-generated imagery, so people "really don't know where one begins and the other ends".<ref name="msn entertainment">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On working with high or low budgets, he remarked that both offer "the exact same job" and whether one has $100 million or $100,000, "you're trying to hit someone in the gut with an emotional moment."<ref name="A.V. CLUB; style, themes and influences">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Whedon determines that, although giving actors notes for guidance, he also aims to assuage their concerns when communicating the reasons and outcomes of a scene.<ref name="NOW; Much Ado">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Whedon has cited Ray Bradbury,<ref name="bradbury">Template:Cite news</ref> James Cameron,<ref name="cameron">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rod Serling,<ref name="heroes">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> William Shakespeare,<ref name="RANDOM HOUSE OF CANADA; i">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Stephen Sondheim,<ref name="sondheim">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Steven Spielberg,<ref name="spielberg">Template:Cite news</ref> Charles Dickens, Stan Lee, Robert Klein, Jerome Robbins, Frank Borzage, Steve Gerber, Steven Bochco, Frances Hodgson Burnett and John Williams as influences.<ref name="heroes" /> When asked about his five favorite films, Whedon listed The Matrix, Once Upon a Time in the West, The Bad and the Beautiful, Magnolia and The Court Jester.<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes; favorite films">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
FeminismEdit
Elements of feminism are present throughout much of Whedon's work<ref name="AFTERELLEN; feminism" /><ref name="Mother Jones; feminism" /> and he gives his mother credit for inspiring this.<ref name="theage">Template:Cite news</ref> The character Kitty Pryde from the X-Men comics was an early model for Whedon's strong teenage girl characters.<ref name="DigitalSpy.; kp">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He said, "If there's a bigger influence on Buffy than Kitty, I don't know what it was. She was an adolescent girl finding out she has great power and dealing with it."<ref name="New York">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Kitty Pryde later played a central role in Whedon's run on Astonishing X-Men.<ref name="digital spy">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In college, Whedon studied a theory called "womb envy",<ref name="AFTERELLEN; feminism" /> a concept he says observes "a fundamental thing that women have something men don't, the obvious being an ability to bear children. Men not only don't get what's important about what women are capable of, but in fact they fear it, and envy it, and want to throw stones at it, because it's the thing they can't have."<ref name="Mother Jones; feminism">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2007, Whedon expressed his outrage over the murder of Du'a Khalil Aswad, and because the act was caught on video, was prompted to attack the underlying attitude he felt led to the murder, comparing the video to torture porn.<ref name="AFTERELLEN; feminism">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="thestar.com; feminism">Template:Cite news</ref>
In late 2013, Whedon spoke at an Equality Now event, where he issued a pointed dissection of the word "feminist". He begins to say, "I have the privilege living my life inside of words ... but part of being a writer is also living in the very smallest part of every word." Arguing against the suffix "-ist", he continues, "you can't be born an –ist. It's not natural." Whedon explains that because of this, the word "includes the idea that believing men and women to be equal ... is not a natural state. That we don't emerge assuming that everybody in the human race is a human. That the idea of equality is just an idea that's imposed on us..."<ref name="The Atlantic; feminism">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="TOR*COM; feminism">Template:Cite news</ref> This sparked an unfavorable reaction from the feminist community,<ref name="SALON; feminism">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="DAILY LIFE; feminism">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> but also an appreciation for Whedon's arguments' thought provocation.<ref name="HUFFPOST; feminism">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="CRUSHABLE; feminism">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
News website Digital Spy released in early 2015 an interview they had conducted with Whedon, during which he criticized the entertainment industry for its "genuine, recalcitrant, intractable sexism, and old-fashioned quiet misogyny".<ref name="onset">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Whedon exemplified The Hunger Games film series as an argument for female-led franchises, and hoped Marvel Studios would pursue production of more such franchises.<ref name="quiet misogyny">Template:Cite news</ref> However, critics noted an almost stereotypical lack of feminist ideals in his writing decisions and portrayal of Black Widow, one of two female protagonists in Marvel's 2015 Avengers: Age of Ultron, played by Scarlett Johansson.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Frequent collaboratorsEdit
Whedon has repeatedly hired the same actors for his projects<ref name="Digital Spy.">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and has been described as "the gravitational center of the Whedonverse, a galaxy that spins recurring actors and themes through an orbital system of TV shows, films and comic books that all share similar traits: a unique brand of witty dialogue, relatable characters and fantasy/sci-fi mythology".<ref name="THE Hollywood REPORTER; cast">Template:Cite news</ref>
Note: Due to Whedon's frequent casting of the same actors in various projects, the above list only includes those who have played two or more different roles in Whedon productions; actors that only played one role in multiple Whedon productions are not included.
Personal lifeEdit
In 2013, Whedon said that he is a workaholic. This arose during the time that followed the completion of Much Ado About Nothing, which was made in the span of a two-week vacation from The Avengers,<ref name="Indiewire; pl">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and after making the pilot for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. amidst the pre-production for Avengers: Age of Ultron. "It is actually a problem. Sometimes it's adorable ... and sometimes it's not ... Not to get all dark and weird, but it is something I need to address."<ref name="TimeOut London; pl">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in its Writers' branch since 2017.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
MarriagesEdit
In 1995, Whedon married Kai Cole, an architect, producer and co-founder of Bellwether Pictures.<ref name="vulture-kai">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They have two children together.<ref name="The Telegraph; personal life">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Whedon and Cole separated in 2012 and divorced in 2016.<ref name="us-divorce">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2017, Cole claimed that Whedon had repeatedly been unfaithful to her and that he "does not practice what he preaches" in regard to feminism.<ref name="kai-on-joss">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Whedon married Canadian artist Heather Horton in February 2021.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Religious and philosophical viewsEdit
Whedon has identified himself as an atheist.<ref name="The New York Times; religious and philosophical views">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="absurdist">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="no">Template:Cite news</ref> Whedon has identified as an absurdist and existentialist.<ref name="absurdist"/> A committed humanist, Whedon was presented with the Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism by the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard University in 2009.<ref name="boston.com; religious and philosophical views">Template:Cite news</ref> He has spoken about existentialism, explaining in detail how it, and more specifically Jean-Paul Sartre's Nausea, was used as a basis for the Firefly episode "Objects in Space". He called it "the most important book" he ever read,<ref name="DEN of GEEK!; religious and philosophical views">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and said it was given to him right after he saw Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind, whose impact, he recalls, had made him an existentialist.<ref name="theguardian; religious and philosophical views">Template:Cite news</ref>
Political viewsEdit
In July 2012, at San Diego Comic-Con, in response to one woman who noted the anti-corporate themes in many of his films and asked him to give his economic philosophy in 30 seconds or less, Whedon spoke out against capitalism, saying that America is "turning into Tsarist Russia".<ref name="The Wrap">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Endorsing Barack Obama in the 2012 United States presidential election,<ref name="HUFFINGTON POST">Template:Cite news</ref> Whedon satirically equated Mitt Romney's future as president with a zombie apocalypse, quipping, "Romney is ready to make the deep rollbacks in health care, education, social services and reproductive rights that will guarantee poverty, unemployment, overpopulation, disease, rioting—all crucial elements in creating a nightmare zombie wasteland."<ref name="YouTube; Whedon on Romney">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Cinemablend; Whedon on Romney">Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2015, Whedon signed a petition as part of a political campaign calling for Elizabeth Warren to run for President of the United States.<ref name="artists for warren 1">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="artists for warren 2">Template:Cite news</ref>
In January 2017, after actress Nicole Kidman publicly suggested that America should accept that Donald Trump is president, Whedon tweeted a photograph of plastic puppet Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward alongside an image of Kidman, an action some interpreted as mocking and objectifying Kidman's physical appearance.<ref name="ivankatrump1">Template:Cite news</ref> That same month, Whedon also received criticism for reportedly comparing Ivanka Trump to a dog and for wishing that Paul Ryan would be raped to death by a rhinoceros.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Referring to Ivanka's husband Jared Kushner and Trump, he tweeted: "He's a Voldemort in training, & unlike the Pekingese he married under, can play the long game."<ref name="ivankatrump1" /><ref name="ivankatrump2">Template:Cite news</ref> Whedon stated that he had been referring to Donald Trump.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In April 2017, Whedon took a shot at Republicans by criticizing the physical appearance of teenage cancer survivors who were visiting then–Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He later apologized on Twitter.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
BibliographyEdit
Dark Horse ComicsEdit
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer:
- Fray #1–8 (with Karl Moline, 2001–2003) collected as Fray (tpb, 216 pages, 2003, Template:ISBN)
- Angel: Legacy Edition Book Two (tpb, 304 pages, Boom! Studios, 2020, Template:ISBN) includes:
- Angel vol. 2 #1–4 (co-written by Whedon and Brett Matthews, art by Mel Rubi, 2001–2002)
- Also collected as Angel: Long Night's Journey (tpb, 104 pages, 2002, Template:ISBN)
- Also collected in Angel Omnibus (tpb, 480 pages, 2011, Template:ISBN)
- Dark Horse Extra #36–38 (untitled three-page story co-written by Whedon and Brett Matthews, art by Mel Rubi, 2001)
- Angel vol. 2 #1–4 (co-written by Whedon and Brett Matthews, art by Mel Rubi, 2001–2002)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Tales (hc, 296 pages, 2011, Template:ISBN; tpb, 2018, Template:ISBN) includes:
- Tales of the Slayers (anthology graphic novel, 96 pages, 2002, Template:ISBN) featured three short stories by Whedon:
- "Prologue" (with Leinil Francis Yu)
- "Righteous" (with Tim Sale)
- "Tales" (with Karl Moline)
- Tales of the Vampires #1–5: "Tales of the Vampires" (with Alex Sanchez, leading feature in the anthology, 2003–2004)
- In addition to the leading feature, Whedon also wrote "Stacy" (art by Cameron Stewart), a short story published in issue #1 (2003)
- The entire 5-issue limited series was also collected as Tales of the Vampires (tpb, 144 pages, 2004, Template:ISBN)
- Tales of the Slayers (anthology graphic novel, 96 pages, 2002, Template:ISBN) featured three short stories by Whedon:
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight:
- Volume 1 (hc, 304 pages, 2012, Template:ISBN) includes:
- "The Long Way Home" (with Georges Jeanty, in #1–4, 2007)
- "The Chain" (with Paul Lee, in #5, 2007)
- "Anywhere but Here" (with Cliff Richards, in #10, 2008)
- MySpace Dark Horse Presents #24: "Always Darkest" (with Jo Chen, digital anthology, 2007)
- Volume 2 (hc, 320 pages, 2012, Template:ISBN) includes:
- "A Beautiful Sunset" (with Georges Jeanty, in #11, 2008)
- "Time of Your Life" (with Karl Moline, in #16–19, 2008)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Willow (with Karl Moline, one-shot, 2009)
- Volume 4 (hc, 320 pages, 2013, Template:ISBN) includes:
- "Turbulence" (with Georges Jeanty, in #31, 2010)
- "Last Gleaming" (with Georges Jeanty, in #36–40, 2010–2011)
- Volume 1 (hc, 304 pages, 2012, Template:ISBN) includes:
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine #1: "Freefall, Part One" (with Georges Jeanty, 2011) collected in Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine Volume 1 (hc, 304 pages, 2015, Template:ISBN)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eleven: Giles #1–4 (co-written by Whedon and Erika Alexander, art by Jon Lam, 2018) collected as Giles: Girl Blue (tpb, 104 pages, 2018, Template:ISBN)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Twelve #1–4 (scripted by Christos Gage from a plot by Whedon and Gage, art by Georges Jeanty, 2018)
- Serenity (plotted by Whedon, scripted by others):
- Firefly: Legacy Edition Book One (tpb, 288 pages, Boom! Studios, 2018, Template:ISBN) includes:
- Serenity #1–3 (written by Brett Matthews, drawn by Will Conrad, 2005) also collected as Serenity: Those Left Behind (tpb, 80 pages, 2006, Template:ISBN; hc, 96 pages, 2007, Template:ISBN)
- Serenity: Better Days #1–3 (written by Brett Matthews, drawn by Will Conrad, 2008) also collected as Serenity: Better Days (tpb, 80 pages, 2008, Template:ISBN; hc, 128 pages, 2010, Template:ISBN)
- Serenity: The Shepherd's Tale (written by Zack Whedon, drawn by Chris Samnee, graphic novel, 56 pages, 2010, Template:ISBN)
- Firefly: Legacy Edition Book One (tpb, 288 pages, Boom! Studios, 2018, Template:ISBN) includes:
- MySpace Dark Horse Presents #1–3: "Sugarshock!" (with Fábio Moon, digital anthology, 2007) collected in MySpace Dark Horse Presents Volume 1 (tpb, 176 pages, 2008, Template:ISBN)
- Twist (unreleased 6-issue limited series starring "a Victorian female Batman" — initially announced in 2015)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Dr. Horrible: Best Friends Forever (with José Maria Beroy and Sara Soler, one-shot, 2018) collected in Dr. Horrible and Other Horrible Stories (tpb, 136 pages, 2019, Template:ISBN)
Marvel ComicsEdit
- X-Men:
- Astonishing X-Men vol. 3 (with John Cassaday, 2004–2008) collected as:
- Ultimate Collection: Astonishing X-Men Volume 1 (collects #1–12, hc, 320 pages, 2006, Template:ISBN; tpb, 2012, Template:ISBN)
- Ultimate Collection: Astonishing X-Men Volume 2 (collects #13–24 and the Giant-Sized Astonishing X-Men one-shot special, hc, 344 pages, 2008, Template:ISBN; tpb, 2012, Template:ISBN)
- Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday Omnibus (collects #1–24 and the Giant-Sized Astonishing X-Men one-shot special, hc, 672 pages, 2009, Template:ISBN)
- Giant-Size X-Men #3: "Teamwork" (with Neal Adams, co-feature, 2005) collected in Giant-Size X-Men: 40th Anniversary (hc, 440 pages, 2015, Template:ISBN)
- Astonishing X-Men vol. 3 (with John Cassaday, 2004–2008) collected as:
- Stan Lee Meets Spider-Man: "Some Steves" (with Michael Gaydos, co-feature in one-shot, 2006) collected in Stan Lee Meets... (hc, 240 pages, 2007, Template:ISBN)
- Runaways vol. 2 #25–30: "Dead-End Kids" (with Michael Ryan, 2007–2008) collected in Runaways: The Complete Collection Volume 3 (tpb, 528 pages, 2015, Template:ISBN)
- Captain America: Sam Wilson #7: "Presentation" (with John Cassaday, co-feature, 2016) collected in Captain America: Sam Wilson — The Complete Collection Volume 2 (tpb, 504 pages, 2021, Template:ISBN)
Other publishersEdit
- Superman/Batman #26 (with John Cassaday, two-page sequence among other writers and artists, DC Comics, 2006) collected in Superman/Batman Volume 2 (tpb, 336 pages, 2014, Template:ISBN)
- Angel: After the Fall (scripted by Brian Lynch from plots by Whedon and Lynch, art by Franco Urru, Tim Kane (#6–8), Nick Runge (#9–12) and Stephen Mooney (#12–14), IDW Publishing, 2007–2009) collected as:
- Volume 1 (collects #1–5, hc, 144 pages, 2008, Template:ISBN; tpb, 2009, Template:ISBN)
- Volume 2 (collects #6–8, hc, 104 pages, 2008, Template:ISBN; tpb, 2009, Template:ISBN)
- Volume 3 (collects #9–12, hc, 128 pages, 2009, Template:ISBN; tpb, 2010, Template:ISBN)
- Volume 4 (collects #13–17, hc, 136 pages, 2010, Template:ISBN; tpb, 2011, Template:ISBN)
- Premiere Edition Volume 1 (collects #1–17, hc, 432 pages, 2011, Template:ISBN)
Selected accoladesEdit
NotesEdit
- <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^{{#if:| }} His first name was changed to "Joss" once he broke into the writing industry.<ref name="born as jhw" />
- <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^{{#if:| }} Sandollar Productions acquired the television rights to the 1992 film, and in the mid-1990s, executive Gail Berman approached Whedon to adapt it as a series based on the success of Clueless.<ref name="sandollar berman">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^{{#if:| }} In the Battle of Serenity Valley, the Independents were defeated by The Alliance, an authoritarian regime.<ref name="San Francisco Chronicle">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="COWBOYS & INDIANS">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^{{#if:| }} Whedon confirmed in April 2015 that it was indeed his screenplay being considered.<ref name="suspension confirmed">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Refend
ReferencesEdit
Further readingEdit
- Havens, Candace (2003). Joss Whedon: The Genius behind Buffy. BenBella Books. Template:ISBN.
- Davidson, Joy, and Wilson, Leah, eds. (2007). The Psychology of Joss Whedon: An Unauthorized Exploration of Buffy, Angel, and Firefly. BenBella Books. Template:ISBN.
- Koontz, K. Dale (2008). Faith and Choice in the Works of Joss Whedon. McFarland. Template:ISBN.
- Comeford, AmiJo and Burnett, Tamy (2010). The Literary Angel: Essays on Influences and Traditions Reflected in the Joss Whedon Series. McFarland. Template:ISBN.
- Waggoner, Erin B. (2010). Sexual Rhetoric in the Works of Joss Whedon: New Essays. McFarland. Template:ISBN.
- Espenson, Jane and Wilson, Leah, eds. (2010). Inside Joss' Dollhouse: Completely Unauthorized, from Alpha to Rossum. Smart Pop. Template:ISBN.
- Leonard, Kendra Preston, ed. (2010). Buffy, Ballads, and Bad Guys Who Sing: Music in the Worlds of Joss Whedon. Scarecrow Press. Template:ISBN.
- Pascale, Amy (2014). Joss Whedon: The Biography. Chicago Review Press. Template:ISBN.
- Macnaughtan, Don (2018). The Whedonverse Catalog: A Complete Guide to Works in All Media. McFarland. Template:ISBN.
External linksEdit
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