According to IESB, their sources are reporting that Joss Whedon (Serenity) is now on the "short list" of directors to helm The Avengers.

The director is no stranger to Marvel comics with his "Astonishing X-Men" being one of the brand's "best selling lines."

Zak Penn is writing The Avengers screenplay. In it Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and other heroes come together to form Marvel's first supergroup, The Avengers.

The Avengers is set to be released May 4, 2012.