Joss Whedon has said he is kicking himself for passing up Avengers: Infinity War.

The filmmaker, who directed Marvel’s Avengers Assemble and its sequel Avengers: Age Of Ultron, is handing over the reins for the third and fourth instalment to Anthony and Joe Russo, who directed the Captain America films.

“I regret (my decision) already. I love these people – that’s why I keep making movies about them – and I love the people I make them with,” he said.

“No studio would ever put that much money into a film, as personal and weird as this film is, and I’m very grateful for that. After the first one, I said, ‘Never again, never again’.

“And then after a few months, I said, ‘Let’s actually talk about what this would be if I did this again’. I realised I have so much to say about these people and if I approach it with a different attitude, I can actually enjoy the experience. Which is great, but never again.”

Mark Ruffalo, Joss Whedon and Robert Downey Jr (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)
Mark Ruffalo, Joss Whedon and Robert Downey Jr (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Joss joked he sometimes felt like a teacher on set, alongside Avengers stars Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans and Jeremy Renner.

“Every now and then, I would say, ‘This is hilarious, guys. You know what else is hilarious? Finishing the movie’,” he said.

Joss Whedon with the Avengers Assemble cast (Denis Poroy/AP)
Joss Whedon with the Avengers Assemble cast (Denis Poroy/AP)

“But they’re great and they know when it’s time to stop having fun so we can roll the cameras, and they can have fun after we film. Robert’s a pro. His energy is great and he, like everybody else, just wants to get it right.

“None of them are truly a bad boy when it comes to shooting although Mark and Scarlett can get pretty silly together.”

Joss, whose previous works included The Cabin In The Woods and TV shows Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Firefly and Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D, hinted he is now looking to do an original project with a small cast.

“I want to go somewhere where I am creating from a whole cloth and it is just me,” he continued. “Small, independent, something that’s about one guy. Every film I’ve made has been an ensemble film, every show I’ve done has been an ensemble show.”

Avengers: Age Of Ultron is in cinemas now.