Here's one of those rumours that was circling a week or two ago that we didn't think there was any chance of coming true. After all, how often do the geek planets align to give Joss Whedon the director's chair on a major project such as Marvel's long-mooted The Avengers movie?

Well, friends, it might be time to sit down. For not only are the planets in alignment, but it seems the ground has sprung up a collection of four-leafed clovers that would last a lifetime: Joss Whedon is, indeed, apparently now in negotiations to direct The Avengers.

The news has been broken by Deadline Hollywood, which confirmed that Whedon was in "final negotiations" for the project, and while he's not signed on the dotted line yet, that moment may be coming very shortly.

It's a bold project on paper, given that this is the film that brings together Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Nick Fury and more under the umbrella of one movie. And it was always going to need a director who knew his onions to pull it all together. Whedon would, indeed, be that man, and Marvel is inclined to agree, it seems.

The only feature film that Whedon has helmed to date, you might recall, is the quite marvellous Serenity (and we're guessing this all but kills any lingering hope of a Serenity 2, which is a massive shame).

By May 2012, when The Avengers hits the big screen, his tally may well be up to two. Here's hoping...

Deadline Hollywood