Well, the speculation that has been knocking around for the past few weeks is more or less confirmed, as Marvel has officially stamped a release date for "The Avengers: [Insert Subtitle Here]" — and you're going to be waiting three years.
Wisely not messing with a release frame that led to a billion dollar plus success, "The Avengers 2" will arrive in theaters on May 1, 2015. It's not exactly a surprise considering Marvel has two movies per year in 2013 ("Iron Man 3", "Thor: The Dark World") and 2014 ("Captain America: The Winter Soldier," and likely either "Ant-Man" or "Guardians of the Galaxy"), and considering writer/director Joss Whedon's new contract with Marvel expires on June 2015, the timing all makes perfect sense.
So, thus begins 36 months of speculation and rumor and about who/what/where/when will be featured in the follow-up. But just don't ask Robert Downey Jr. right now as the dude just injured his ankle on the set of "Iron Man 3." Get better RDJ! We're gonna need you back in that suit soon enough.
Not exactly 3 years (36 month) but hey….
Has anybody noticed that Marvel has owned the first weekend of May since 2007 and they'll continue to do so at least through 2015? From Spider-Man 3 to the Iron Man movies to The Avengers, it's turned into an annual tradition. We kick every summer movie season with a Marvel movie.
The 2nd 2014 films has not been confirmed as Guardians of the Galaxy. Both that and Ant Man are gearing up, with Ant Man appearing further along (director/writer in place as opposed to an unproven screenwriting team taking a swing at a much more difficult premise and tone in Guardians/no director on board). Toss in the Thanos thing and May release for Avengers, I'd gamble that Guardians is back half of 2015 with Avengers setting up the threat of Thanos and Whedon playing with his new Ant Man toy.