Joss Whedon releasing film for digital download

NEW YORK (AP) — Joss Whedon is releasing a film he wrote as a $5 digital download, bypassing the normal channels of independent film distribution.

In a video announcement Sunday following the premiere of the supernatural romance "In Your Eyes" at the Tribeca Film Festival, Whedon says the film will immediately be released online via Vimeo On Demand and InYourEyesMovie.com.

The film stars Zoe Kazan and Michael Stahl-David. Whedon penned and produced it.

The release will be the second film release for Whedon's "micro studio" Bellwether Productions, following last year's adaptation of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing."

Whedon has experimented previously with digital releases. His 2008 miniseries "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" was among the first high-profile Web series.

Whedon currently is working on the "Avengers" sequel "Age of Ultron," to be released next year.