Joss Whedon to write 'S.H.I.E.L.D.' pilot for ABC

Brace yourselves for a total nerd-gasm: Joss Whedon (YES!) is set to write and possibly direct a new TV series (DOUBLE YES!!) based on S.H.I.E.L.D., the Marvel peacekeeping organization featured in his hit movie "The Avengers" (TRIPLE YES!!!).

Deadline reports that ABC has ordered the pilot from ABC Studios and Marvel TV. It's the first Marvel project to get that far in the development process, and obviously Whedon's involvement and the huge success of "The Avengers" mean it's got a great chance of heading to series.

S.H.I.E.L.D. is Marvel's comic book law enforcement agency and stands for Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate. In the "Avengers" movie the agency came into play as director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) recruited Marvel's top superheroes to help save Earth.

The pilot will be written by Whedon and collaborators Maurissa Tancharoen and brother Jed Whedon, and Deadline reports that production will start immediately.

Nerds, feel free to bust out that champagne and begin praying to your chosen deity that the show has a long, fruitful, multi-season run. (Think "Buffy" as opposed to "Firefly" or "Dollhouse.")