Joss Whedon Sci-Fi Series The Nevers Lands at HBO

HBO has landed a new sci-fi series called The Nevers from Joss Whedon, best known as the director of The Avengers. The show marks Whedon's return to his first home of television, having created the likes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, and Dollhouse.

The Nevers is described as an epic science fiction drama about a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies and a mission that might change the world, per a log line obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.

In line with the recent trend but unlike his previous TV efforts, Whedon will have a much greater participation in The Nevers. He will serve as writer, director, executive producer and showrunner. No premiere date or episode count has been set yet.

"I honestly couldn't be more excited. The Nevers is maybe the most ambitious narrative I've created, and I can't imagine a better home for it than HBO," Whedon said. "Not only are they the masters of cinematic longform, but their instant understanding of my odd, intimate epic was as emotional as it was incisive. It's been too long since I created an entirely new fictional world, and the HBO team offers not just scope and experience, not just 'prestige,' but a passionate collaboration. I could go on, but - I'm impatiently grateful to say - I have work to do."

Sources close to THR say The Nevers was part of a bidding war that included Netflix, but HBO came out on top. This is the second sci-fi production from an acclaimed and well-known writer-director HBO has landed in recent months, after J.J. Abrams' Demimonde, which was also in a bidding war with the likes of Apple.

"We have long been fans of the incredibly talented and prolific Joss Whedon and we can't think of a better project than The Nevers with which to welcome him to the HBO family," HBO programming president Casey Bloys said. "We look forward to meeting the strange, multifaceted characters of The Nevers, to learn their stories, see them in action and share them with our viewers. We're honoured that Joss chose HBO as the place to build his ambitious new world and we are excited to get started."

The Nevers will be the first TV series Whedon has created since Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in 2013, and the first solo creation since Dollhouse in 2009. Most recently, Whedon co-wrote the critical and financial disappointment Justice League, on which he also served as director for reshoots.