The Avengers Assembled...So What's Next?

With Phase One of Marvel's Cinematic Universe now out everywhere on DVD and Blu-Ray (including ‘Iron Man 1 and 2’, ‘The Incredible Hulk’, ‘Thor’, ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ and ‘The Avengers’), people are now asking what is Marvel currently doing for the next phase in its cinematic universe?

Marvel’s Phase Two begins with ‘Iron Man 3’.

Jon Favreau has stepped down from directing to be replaced by Shane Black, who was a screenwriter on the previous ‘Iron Man 2’.

‘Iron Man 3’ sees what happened to Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) after the events of ‘Avengers’ and how it has affected his life as he also tackles his greatest nemesis and fan favourite Iron Man baddie, The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley). The story also focuses on an Iron Man comic book story arc called ‘Extremis’, where Tony had to create a brand new armor to combat a man given superpowers genetically through a virus called Extremis. Don Cheadle returns as Rhodey/War Machine as well as Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan and Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts. 

‘Iron Man 3’ is currently still in production with the latest filming to be done in China.

3 is a magic number when ‘Iron Man 3’ hits theatres April 26^th 2013 in the UK and May 3^rd 2013 everywhere else.

Meanwhile the sequel to ‘Thor’, ‘Thor: The Dark World’ is also in production with filming still being done at the Royal Naval College, aka the University of Greenwich in London, aka my university.

It will be directed by Alan Taylor, famous among the nerd community for having directed several episodes of ‘Game of Thrones’.

Also following after ‘The Avengers’, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) return to Asgard only to find it and the other Nine Realms in chaos as a mysterious enemy older than the universe itself returns. However, the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim, one of the Nine Realms led by Malekith the Accursed (Christopher Eccleston) are on a quest for revenge that will plunge the universe into darkness. Faced with unstoppable forces that even Odin (Anthony Hopkins) can’t stop, Thor will reunite with Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) as he sets out on a journey that will force him to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Lightning strikes twice when ‘Thor: The Dark World’ is released on November 8^th, 2013.

Currently in development for 2014 is the sequel to ‘Captain America’, ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier'. 

It will be directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and stars the returning Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, as well as Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Sebastian Stan as James “Bucky” Barnes, Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow and Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill first introduced in ‘The Avengers’. Anthony Mackie will star as superhero The Falcon that will star alongside Captain America with several female actors being auditioned for Steve’s love interest.

The story will focus on Steve’s adjustment to the modern world after ‘Avengers’ as he is also targeted by the ruthless assassin, The Winter Solider, a soldier from Cap’s past.

‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ begins filming next year in March 2013 in Cleveland and will also film in California and Washington D.C.

Cap returns for an un-wintery release of April 4^th 2014.

Also in development is an adaptation of Marvel’s ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy’. The film will be directed by James Gunn, who last directed ‘Super’, a black comedy superhero film and will be written by him, Nicole Perlman and Chris McCoy.

Details about the plot and cast of the film are scarce but rumours indicate that Thanos, a powerful villain revealed in the mid-credits sequence of ‘Avengers’ will be the villain. The Guardians are a group of space Avengers, different alien races that come together in order to protect the galaxy, with the group consisting of Drax the Destroyer, Groot, Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon and Gamora, but rumors speculate that this will not be the cast of characters seen in the film. 

The ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ will protect us on August 1^st 2014.

But what we do know is that whatever happens in the solo films for Iron Man, Thor, Cap and Guardians, will have a large impact when Earth’s Mightiest Heroes regroup for ‘Avengers 2’, slated for a May 1^st 2015 release, directed and written by Joss Whedon.

And whatever happens…shall be AWESOME!

I'm a nerd, and this was my rant.