‘Avengers’ sequel very likely
By Jim Slotek ,QMI AgencyBut of course, a sequel is planned. If it wasn't, would Chris Evans be signed to six movies as Captain America? (Presumably three Cap films and three Avengers.) "Two down, four to go," Evans told us recently in Los Angeles.
Still, the next Avengers has to wait until various component sequels are shot. Release date for The Avengers sequel has been speculated for as early as 2015 and as late as 2017.
Iron Man 3, with Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) directing, is set to start shooting next month in Wilmington, N.C. Ben Kingsley, Guy Pearce and, likely, Jessica Chastain will join the cast. It's scheduled for a May 2013 release.
Thor 2 starts filming in September in London for a Christmas 2013 release.
And yes, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) will be back. Ironically, Hiddleston moved to L.A. from London after Thor, and then was cast in War Horse (which shot in London and France) and is headed Over 'Ome again.
The Marvel roll-out plans calls for Captain America 2 (a 2014 release) to start filming as soon as Thor 2 finishes, likely in January of next year.
Of the others, there are apparently no plans for an Incredible Hulk movie with Mark Ruffalo. (Ang Lee's Hulk "underperformed," as they say, and The Incredible Hulk reboot with Edward Norton grossed even less.)
And despite what you may read elsewhere (including the Internet Movie Database), there are no plans for a Nick Fury/S.H.I.E.L.D. movie, according to the man who'd know, Samuel L. Jackson.
"Nobody's spoken to me about it, and as far as I know, there is no movie for Scarlett (Johansson)'s character (Black Widow), either," said Jackson.
"I know I'm in Captain America 2, and I know I'm not in Iron Man 3, which is too bad. I've always liked Shane's writing and direction. I haven't talked about Thor 2, so I don't think I'm in that. That's as far as I know right now."
Stan Lee has revealed that he'd like to see a few new characters in the eventual sequel to The Avengers. The comic book icon told I Am Rogue that he wants Dr. Strange, Black Panther and Ant-Man in the next film.
"Oh I'd be happy if they add Black Panther and maybe Dr Strange," he said. "Those two and probably Ant-Man, which I think they are working on. Maybe I'll play a little role in that."
Lee noted that he was surprised that a Marvel team-up film hit theaters first, saying, "I never imagined I'd see any of my characters become movies. But this was a logical thing to do. It was smart. I'm amazed that DC didn't beat us to it with the Justice League. But you've got to hand it to Marvel."
