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"The Avengers" director Joss Whedon is switching from comic books to classic English literature. Whedon's first release from his micro-studio Bellwether will be an adaptation of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," which Whedon shot in 12 days on location in Santa Monica, Calif. The film is scheduled to be released this year.

'Much Ado About Nothing,' 2012

( Matt Sayles / AP / July 6, 2012 )

"The Avengers" director Joss Whedon is switching from comic books to classic English literature. Whedon's first release from his micro-studio Bellwether will be an adaptation of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," which Whedon shot in 12 days on location in Santa Monica, Calif. The film is scheduled to be released this year.

Shakespeare 2.0: The bard on the screen

'Much Ado About Nothing,' 2012