Odds are that if you're like us, the announcement earlier this week regarding Joss Whedon's next television project ABC/Marvel pilot S.H.I.E.L.D. had you just a bit worried. Why? Well after four long years, there's been plenty of talk regarding a sequel to the 2008 internet smash hit Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog starring Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day.
But with the principal development team behind the musical comedy focused on bringing Marvel's Cinematic Universe to the small screen, it threw the momentum of a second installment into question once more. Now Whedon has decided to speak up and reassures that a sequel is still in the works, with a hopeful filming start for 2013.
Speaking with Variety, Whedon said that a Dr. Horrible 2 is still very much in the works and that he hopes to get it into production "within the next year". He says the problem with the delay is that he's been "employing the people who will work on it in other capacities", but with stars Harris and Fillion free from their television series commitments early next year there's a chance the musical could film by the middle of next year.
Whedon worked on the original Dr. Horrible with brother Jed and sister-in-law Maurissa Tancharoen, who all three wrote for the short-lived FOX television series Dollhouse from 2009-2010. Jed and Maurissa are back to write the pilot for S.H.I.E.L.D. with Joss, and if the series is successfully picked up for next year the two will serve as showrunners.
Earlier this year, Joss gave an update on the sequel by saying that songs were being written by the trio for use in a follow-up but since then no major developments have been given. It's unclear whether or not a script has somehow manifested itself, but the Whedon clan has certainly hinted that they know exactly how the story will go. Fillion even revealed that he knows what the sequel's title will be, though he kept the moniker a secret for the time being.
What's even more interesting is that Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog will be making its broadcast debut when it kicks off The CW's fall season on October 9th. Should the original be a splash there's a chance a sequel could gain some more traction going forward, though nothing is currently determined.
As for distribution regarding the sequel Whedon revealed that they are unsure exactly how they'll be releasing the content this time around, but that production would be taking a "media-agnostic" approach.
We'll keep you updated as developments continue in the future.
What do you think? Will we ever see a second Dr. Horrible? Let us know either in the comments below, or tweet us @FilmThrasher on Twitter!
