( CNN ) -- Joss Whedon 's name has been flung around the movie stratosphere with Thor-worthy momentum since his superhero blockbuster `` The Avengers '' staked a claim on the box office this summer . But the `` Buffy the Vampire Slayer , '' `` Angel '' and `` Firefly '' creator still feels relatively nervous , modest , yenta-ish and excited when it comes to film festivals . His equally modest , black-and-white Shakespeare adaptation `` Much Ado About Nothing '' premieres Saturday at this year 's Toronto International Film Festival . The festival runs from Thursday through Sept. 16 . `` I 've been to two festivals in my life , and I 've never been to Toronto . I have n't really been making festival movies . This is new territory for me , '' Whedon told EW.com . `` I 'm kind of festive . Toronto has an amazing rep . The entire cast is coming . That 's so exciting for me , since they 're all my buddies . I would like to find a distributor and would really like to see other people 's movies . '' What 's next for Joss Whedon ? `` Much Ado , '' starring `` Angel '' alums Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof as sparring lovers Benedick and Beatrice , and `` Firefly '' alum Nathan Fillion as comically incompetent constable Dogberry , is as far from `` The Avengers ' '' large sets and booming action as you can get . The movie was shot over 12 days at Whedon 's home in Santa Monica , Calif . It 's the first feature from Whedon 's mini studio Bellwether Pictures , which he created with his wife Kai Cole . Acker , who has flown somewhat under the radar since her role as wide-eyed Winifred Burkle on `` Angel , '' did a reading of `` Much Ado '' with Denisof years ago at Whedon 's house . Hopefully the film version will land Acker back in the spotlight . `` Amy 's the best actress I 've ever worked with . Get ready for an ace star performance . People were speechless , '' gushed Whedon . `` We started the home Shakespeare readings 10 years ago or more . It was season five or season six of Buffy . Sarah Michelle Gellar did not do the readings . A smattering of writers and actors from the shows did them . With Much Ado , eventually the technology changed to the point where you can make a movie , and not just a stage reading , but an actual production at home . '' As for Fillion , Whedon said the Castle star had never read Shakespeare , before filming the movie , and that Fillion was scared . `` But he was so assured , and so funny . People are thinking spinoff ! '' said Whedon . Whedon also mused about the connections between Shakespeare and `` The Avengers , '' which has grossed more than $ 650 million domestically at the box office since its May debut , according to BoxOfficeMojo.com . Apparently a knack for dry , snarky , intricate language and twisting , turning plot lines spans generations , TV , movies and plays . `` There 's a reason Tony Stark makes fun of Thor , and mentions Shakespeare in the Park in The Avengers , '' said Whedon . `` It 's great to play high drama and comedy alongside a modern story . Shakespeare was shameless about that stuff , pop culture references . Much Ado is very much in the vein of the movies I make , which surprised me . It 's not that different from The Avengers . It 's about finding why everyone is in the movie . What makes Ursula the maid shine ? It was oddly similar . '' As for making other independent films , with Whedon 's mega stuffed Marvel schedule working on `` The Avengers '' sequel and TV spinoff `` S.H.I.E.L.D. , '' will there still be time , or even room in his Marvel contract , for the multitasking writer-director to feed into Bellwether Pictures ? Whedon said yes . `` The agreement with Marvel carved out room for movies like 'Much About Do ' and 'In Your Eyes , ' which my wife produced , which we 've finished post on . And Dr. Horrible 2 , '' said Whedon . `` Anything that is not movie and TV . I can do web , comic books , macramÃ© , art . '' See full story at EW.com . CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved .
`` Much Ado About Nothing '' premieres Saturday Toronto International Film Festival . The film stars `` Angel '' and `` Firefly '' alumni . This is the first time in a long while that I have seen an actor who could play both Shakespeare characters