The Avengers TV show in the making

Just when you thought The Avengers couldn't get any bigger, they're going smaller.

After becoming the third highest-grossing film of all time with takings of $1.4 billion worldwide, The Avengers is in the early stages of becoming a live-action drama series.

Marvel's television division is in talks with ABC in the US about the proposed series, which would take place in the Avengers universe, but may not necessarily feature the characters from the big-screen instalments.

Before you rise up in a Hulk-like rage, rest assured it's just "a kernel of an idea" at the moment, Deadline reports.

Multiple scenarios are in discussion, including a potential "high-concept cop show". Because what the world needs is another police procedural, albeit one with an intergalactic Men in Black-esque twist.

That idea could shift the focus onto S.H.I.E.L.D., the top-secret spy and law-enforcement agency led by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) in the recent film.

Even if we don't get Iron Man and pals back together on TV, Avengers fans will be pleased to know a separate Hulk TV series is set to launch in 2013.

The Incredible Hulk, of course, was a series from 1978 to 1982, so it's ripe for a reboot.

Meanwhile, Marvel continues to churn out animated series of The Avengers, Spider-Man, Hulk, Iron Man, and X-Men.

The next big-screen Avengers adventures will be Iron Man 3 in April 2013, Thor: The Dark World in November 2013, Captain America: The Winter Soldier in April 2014, and the undated but confirmed Nick Fury and The Avengers 2.

Just quietly, we hope the Thor sequel makes use of Chris Hemsworth's secret dancing prowess (check out the flashback below from his 2006 Dancing with the Stars stint).

Would you watch an Avengers TV show without the Avengers? Tell us below.

Related story: Scarlett Johansson scores record-breaking pay packet for The Avengers 2