I am – Hercules!!

The August/September edition of In Focus Magazine has an epic cover story on “Firefly”-“Serenity” mastermind Joss Whedon. The interview was conducted June 23, so it makes no mention of the latest “Spike” TV-moive buzz, but it does feature Whedon talking about (among many, many other things):

* Why there are no horses in “Serenity," and why the “Serenity” characters do not curse in Japanese or French;

* Whether Shepherd Book once did the bidding of evil men;

* Why “Revenge of the Jedi” is the movie Whedon would have loved to have written;

* How Whedon got involved with “Toy Story”;

* Why Jim Carrey did not play Buzz Lightyear;

* How plans to set the final act of “Alien: Resurrection” on Earth were scrapped.

* Whether the movie Wonder Woman will fly under her own power, or make do with an invisible plane;

* Whether Whedon will set a height requirement for Diana of Themyscera;

* Whether Diana will contend with a print-derived supervillain;

* What he thought of Jor-El’s giant “S.”

* His original “X-Men” movie script, which involved Phoenix and the Danger Room.

* The prequel to “Batman” Whedon pitched to Warner Bros. before Christopher Nolan got involved;

* How the “X3” movie he discussed with its producers would have differed from the one that’s going to be made;

* Whether he’s interested in making an “Avengers” movie;

* What happened to his “Iron Man” project for New Line; and

* What he’s planning for the 2006-2007 TV season.

If sources at In Focus are to be trusted, the online version should be live Monday, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. ET, here. The story is free, whether you subscribe or not. Be sure to click on the extra-long online-only edition of the interview if you want everything.

(And if anybody knows where to find that Danger-Room/Phoenix "X-Men" script, don't be shy about dropping us a line.)

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