Joss Whedon's S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot could begin in January, if a new report is to be believed.

We've known since the series was announced in August that it's a priority for corporate siblings ABC and Marvel, with the pilot targeted for the fall 2013 season. Seemingly confirming that timetable, a new listing on Television Show Auditions states that S.H.I.E.L.D. will go in front of the camera in mid-January in Los Angeles. That would put the project on course for the network spring upfront presentations.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. will be set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, sharing constancy with the films in that franchise," the listing reads. "S.H.I.E.L.D. will be independent from The Avengers film, and people who haven’t seen the Marvel movies can jump right in and understand the storylines."

The release continues, "There will generally be new characters and agents who are not superheroes, and even though they are a large organization, they will be underdogs since they still exist in that superhero universe. Clark Gregg is playing Agent Phil Coulson, the same role he has played in Iron Man I & II, Thor, and The Avengers. The series will center on his character. Screen Actors Guild Awards nominee Ming-Na Wen has been cast as as Agent Melinda May, an ace pilot and weapons expert."

We already knew that Joss Whedon is directing the series' pilot, and that his brother Jed Whedon and Jed's wife Maurissa Tancharoen will become showrunners if it's picked up to series. With S.H.I.E.L.D. shooting in the new year, the pilot should likely be ready by Comic-Con International to test on fan audiences. ABC could also pick up the series for its fall schedule if the network likes what it sees.