A raccoon with a machine gun. Who says Marvel have run out of ideas?...

[Update: An earlier version of this article featured some incorrect release dates, which have now been amended.]

One would think that after several very successful – and quite entertaining – films whose various characters all wound up starring in this last summer’s blockbuster The Avengers, Marvel could rest on its laurels and announce “Mission Accomplished”. But nay, the good folks at Marvel Studios have so much more to offer us, as indicated by the mid-credits scene of Avengers.

While the Shane Black-helmed Iron Man 3 has been in production for months and director Alan Taylor has now started filming Thor: The Dark World in England, folks were wondering when Chris Evans was going to suit up again. Well, wonder no more – Evans has just announced that he will next don the stars and stripes in March 2013 (providing the Mayans were wrong) for Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

[Some comic book spoilers follow, which could have some bearing on the plot of Captain America: The Winter Soldier]

Not much is known about the project yet, outside of the fact that Sebastian Shaw is expected to return to the role of Bucky Barnes, a.k.a. The Winter Soldier, and Anthony Mackie has been cast as Sam Wilson a.k.a. The Falcon. In the Marvelverse, Bucky was found frozen (like Cap) by the Soviets, who brainwashed him to become a super-soldier for them, eventually being saved by his old friend Steve Rogers, and even taking up the mantle of Captain America after he was believed to be assassinated.  The Falcon was the first African-American superpowered hero, having been given a telepathic connection to Redwing – a falcon he had befriended – by Red Skull via the Cosmic Cube. (Whether or not Red Skull will make an appearance in the film is yet to be known.)

The film – being directed by Anthony and Joe Russo – is set to open in April 2014, giving the filmmakers a year to make sure the film is perfect. And Avengers director and geek god Joss Whedon has recently informed MTV that James Gunn will be taking the reins for Guardians of the Galaxy, which is based on the 2008 version of the team reboot. According to Whedon:

"He has a very twisted take on it, but it all comes from a real love for the material. It's going to be hard for the humans to keep up. I know he's going to come from left field and I'm going to go, 'What?' And then, 'Of course, why didn't I think of that?' And then I'm going to beat him!"

However, many are curious as to whether fan favorite Rocket Raccoon (yes, a gun-toting raccoon – if you can’t handle that, step away from the comic books) will make it into the film. But as Whedon commented:

"I myself was sort of like, 'Well, I liked Rocket Raccoon as a kid, but I'm not sure how that plays [to a wider audience].' And then they said, 'Well, we're thinking about using James Gunn.' And I said, 'Oh, then no, you're fine.' He is so off the wall, and so crazy, but so smart, such a craftsman and he builds from his heart. He loves the raccoon. Needs the raccoon."

[Spoilers for the mid-credits scene of The Avengers follow]

Guardians of the Galaxy is set to hit theatres in August 2014, and if rumors are correct, we’ll get a proper introduction to Thanos (as I said, there was a huge set-up in that mid-credits scene), who may go on to be the heavy in Avengers 2. Really, the world simply can’t end this December. There are far too many great movies set to come out.

See also:

Cool concept art for Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy

An analysis of Joss Whedon's new three-year deal with Marvel Studios

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