Avengers Director Quits Twitter Over Criticism

Film director Joss Whedon has quit Twitter after criticism of his latest movie, Avengers: Age Of Ultron.

The 50-year-old filmmaker, who also directed 2012's Avengers Assemble, deleted his account after fans panned the plot of the Marvel sequel.

They also cried sexism in his portrayals of Scarlett Johansson's character Black Widow and Elizabeth Olsen's alter-ego, Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch.

Before deleting his account, @josswhedon, he tweeted: "Thank you to all the people who've been so kind and funny and inspiring up in here."

Some of the posts focused on Whedon's "hatchet" job on Black Widow.

One tweeted at him: "WE ALL HATE YOU".

Another said: "thanks for ruining Natasha Romanoff you absolute trash can".

Yet another said: "why do you ruin everything we love."

Avengers: Age Of Ultron also stars Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans and Mark Ruffalo.

The movie has just topped the box office with the second-biggest US opening weekend ever.

Whedon - who previously left Twitter in 2013 - created TV shows Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The next two Avengers films will be directed by Anthony and Joe Russo.