The Internetz Explode Over Joss Whedon's Just Announced Secret Project, 'Much Ado About Nothing'

I woke up to some chaos today! Joss Whedon has managed to take a bunch of Whedonverse alum and film a whole entire movie under the world's nose, all while The Avengers and Buffy Season 9 are underway! The film? Shakespeare's (or Shakespeare inspired?) Much Ado About Nothing - "A film by Joss Whedon based on a play", as the website states. And how we all slept through this, I'll never know. Upon rising, my reader was going nuts, people were emailing (thanks Chris!) and it's all over the press!

It all started with Nathon Fillion, the kook, tweeting something about having to speak Shakespearean some weeks ago. He and Fran Kranz then tweeted again yesterday, pretty much confirming everything and linking to the film's website...currently a placeholder with photo and list of cast. Oh and Buffyfest fave and she of the lack of last name vowels, Shawna Trpcic, is doing costuming! The Whedonverse alum listed are as follows:

Amy Acker (Fred/Illyiria, Angel)
Alexis Denisof (Wesley, Buffy/Angel)
Tom Lenk (Andrew, Buffy/Angel)
Nathan Fillion (Mal, Firefly - Captain Hammer, Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog)
Sean Maher (Simon, Firefly)
Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson, The Avengers)
Reed Diamond (Laurence Dominic, Dollhouse)
Ashley Johnson (Caroline/Hayden Leeds/Wendy, Dollhouse)
Fran Kranz (Topher, Dollhouse)
Riki Lindhome (Cheryl, Buffy/Angel)

Trent from Pink Is The New Blog actually got to participate in the film. His friends were in a few scenes and he played an extra. Must have been awesome for him as he is a big-time Buffy and Whedonverse fan himself.

We can only assume that this all stemmed from Whedon and the Shakespeare readings/parties he has at his home. This is how the character of Illyria came about and probably other ideas over the years as well. It looks like Alexis Denisof and Amy Acker play the lead characters in this project (shocked that there is an absence of Summer Glau here). Shakespeare's original version of Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy about two pairs of lovers: Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero. Benedick and Beatrice both talk a mile a minute and proclaim their scorn for love, marriage, and each other. Claudio and Hero, on the other hand, are sweet young people who are rendered practically speechless by their love for one another.

Exciting! Now how long before Joss goes all purple on Whedonesque and gives us some more info?