Source: Deadline

Well this is exciting, and actually could work as a TV series. The following comes from Deadline:

ABC has ordered a pilot for S.H.I.E.L.D, a live-action series from The Avengers writer-director Joss Whedon, Marvel TV and ABC Studios.

S.H.I.E.L.D. will be written by Whedon and frequent collaborators, his brother Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen. Joss Whedon also is set to direct the pilot, schedule permitting. Production on the pilot, which marks the first live-action Marvel TV project to get a green light, will start immediately.

While The Avengers themselves won't be regulars on the series, assume they'll be making appearances to boost ratings every so often.

It's obvious this is being milked for all it's worth, but it's damn justified. It'll be great if it's done right, but I'm not keeping my hopes up that Whedon will be a regular co-writer on the series, as he'll be busy with Avengers 2 and 3 and 4 and so on. Maybe 5,6,7, too.