What do "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Toy Story" have in common? They both feature contributions from Joss Whedon, the director, producer and writer currently in final negotiations to helm "The Avengers" for Marvel Studios.

Whedon's credits are nothing if not diverse. Although he is best known as the creator of geek-friendly TV shows "Angel," "Dollhouse," "Firefly," the aforementioned "Buffy" and the cult Web series "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog," Whedon has also put his stamp on Hollywood as a screenwriter for "Toy Story" and "Alien Resurrection," among other movies. In 2005, Whedon made his directorial debut with "Serenity," a feature-film adaptation of his short-lived "Firefly" TV series. "The Avengers" would mark his second time directing a major motion picture.

Given his lack of filmmaking experience, Whedon seems a curious choice to direct Marvel's flagship franchise. But to his credit, he is more than familiar with the Marvel brand, having written the critically acclaimed "Astonishing X-Men" comic book series alongside artist John Cassaday. In the final issue of his highly regarded run on the title, Whedon authored many of the characters set to appear in "The Avengers," including Iron Man.

One obvious talent that Whedon brings to "The Avengers" is his ability to manage a massive ensemble cast. The director is widely recognized for successfully utilizing a multitude of memorable characters in his projects, a crucial skill in the case of "The Avengers," given the involvement of high-profile actors such as Robert Downey Jr. (as Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America) and Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury).

Beyond his well-established history with genre properties, Marvel characters and ensemble projects, Whedon's greatest asset is his ability to tell relatable stories with superhuman players. With a cast of characters consisting of an armored alcoholic billionaire, a one-eyed master spy, a time-displaced World War II hero and the Norse God of Thunder, Whedon's gift for crafting intimate tales on an epic backdrop is an invaluable quality. It's also the most likely reason he was hired to assemble "The Avengers" in the first place.

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