Want to know more about Marvel Phase 2? Well, you’re in luck, as a video has popped up online taking us into the expansion of the Marvel Universe. Unsurprisingly it focuses on the imminent Iron Man 3, but there’s also chat, concept art and footage from the likes of Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians Of The Galaxy and The Avengers 2.

It’s all quite interesting, although more designed to make Phase 2 sound exciting than to tell us too many concrete facts about the upcoming movies.

There’s also been come concept art for Captain America 2 and Guardians Of The Galaxy popped up, which you can see below.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier concept art

Captain America: The Winter Soldier concept art

Captain America: The Winter Soldier concept art

Captain America: The Winter Soldier concept art

Captain America: The Winter Soldier concept art

Captain America: The Winter Soldier concept art

Captain America: The Winter Soldier concept art

Guardians Of The Galaxy concept art

Guardians Of The Galaxy concept art

Guardians Of The Galaxy concept art

Marvel must have liked shooting Thor: The Dark World in the UK, as they were already planning to film Guardians Of The Galaxy in Britain later this year, and now it’s been revealed The Avengers 2 will also be coming to the UK, according to ScreenDaily.

Marvel’s The Avengers was shot entirely in the US, but the studio feels Britain is the home for the sequel. There’s no news on whether that means the sequel will be less centred on America, or if it’s purely because it’s cheaper to shoot over here.

Joss Whedon is returning to write and direct, with Avengers stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, and Mark Ruffalo all slated to return.

Other major productions that have recently shot at Pinewood-Shepperton include Maleficent, Jack Ryan and The Muppets… Again!. Disney’s live-action Cinderella is about to start shooting there in the near future.

The Avengers 2 comes to cinemas May 1st, 2015.

There have been an awful lot of Iron Man 3 posters released, and now we’ve got another one, which is essentially a composite of the previously released character posters. It’s pretty cool, even if Ben Kingsley’s Mandarin does look like he’s randomly floating in the background.

And while we’re talking Iron Man 3, Joss Whedon has seen the film and commented that it’s made writing The Avengers 2 a bit more daunting for him. Marvel had honcho Kevin Feige told 2 Kids And A Coupon that, “We have what I think is the biggest, you know, most action packed finale we’ve had. I showed the film to Joss Whedon, who is our writer-director of Avengers, is currently working on Avengers 2, and he saw the finale of this and he goes, now what am I supposed to do now?  What am I going to do in Avengers 2?”

Whether that’s just because the ending is so huge or if it effects Tony Stark’s story in a way that will impact on the next Avengers movie isn’t known. Iron Man 3 hits UK cinemas on April 26th and the US on May 3rd.

With all the excitement over Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series, it’s easy to forget that it isn’t a series yet. All it is is a planned pilot episode, and there’s no guarantee it’ll get picked up or see the light of day. However with Joss Whedon onboard to direct that pilot, you’ve got to imagine it’s got a good chance of becoming a fully-fledged show.

Now the pilot has rounded out its mains cast, adding Nashville star Chloe Bennet as Skye. She joins Ming-Na (Agent Melinda May), Elizabeth Henstridge (Agent Gemma Simmons), Iain De Caestecker (Agent Leo Fitz}, and Brett Dalton (Agent Grant Ward), along with Clark Gregg as the ubiquitous Agent Coulson, although it’s still not known if Gregg will be a regular character or if he’ll just be in the pilot.

Back in October, a character breakdown said about Skye, “This late-20s woman sounds like a dream: fun, smart, caring and confident – with an ability to get the upper hand by using her wit and charm.” The character is also apparently obsessed with superhero culture, which is likely what leads her to work at S.H.I.E.L.D.

Joss Whedon will direct the pilot episode from a script he co-wrote with Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen. They’ll shoot the episode in January, and if all goes to plan, the series will start airing on ABC in the US next autumn. (Source: THR)

Joss Whedon is a busy man. He’s overseeing Marvel’s Phase Two movies, directing and co-writing the pilot episode of the planned S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series and he even found time to make Much Ado About Nothing, set for release next year. However what most people care about is The Avengers 2, which is already set for May 1st, 2015.

After the incredible success of The Avengers, Entertainment Weekly has named him one of the Entertainers Of The Year, so Joss sat down with the magazine for a chat, revealing that he already has the story mapped out, and has recently turned in an outline to Marvel Studios. Of course, no story details have been revealed yet.

The main Avengers cast are expected to return, including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, and Samuel L. Jackson. It isn’t known when it might shoot, although many expect cameras to roll before 2013 is out.

Plans for the S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series continue to build with the news, via THR, that Brett Dalton has signed on for the pilot, which Joss Whedon has written alongside Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen.

The actor will portray Agent Grant Ward, who’s described as ‘a skilled rising star within the organization who is described as deadly, precise and cool under fire but lacking people skills.’. He joins Ming-Na as Melinda May, Elizabeth Henstridge as Agent Gemma Simmons, and Ian de Caestecker’s Agent Leo Fitz. Initial casting breakdowns also featured an agent known as Skye, but so far nobody has been cast in that role.

Dalton isn’t a particularly well known actor, although he has guest spots on the likes of Army Wives and Blue Bloods, and is due to appear in National Geographic’s telepic Killing Lincoln next year.

Joss Whedon is also expected to direct the pilot episode, with production slated to begin in January. Quite when we’ll get to see it isn’t known yet.

The S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series is certainly coming together. The pilot already has Ming-Na and Clark Gregg attached, and now THR reports that two British actors have signed up for this expansion of the Marvel universe, Elizabeth Henstridge and Iain De Caestecker.

The actors will play Agent Gemma Simmons and Agent Leo Fitz, who both came up through the academy together and spend a majority of their time with each other. While that might sound like a recipe for romance, a recent character breakdown describes their relationship as being more like siblings, and they spend much of their time bickering. Gemma is a science expert, with Leo specialising in technology.

This will be Henstridge’s first major mainstream role, although she has filmed a role in the upcoming Tooting Broadway and appeared in a couple of episode of Hollyoaks. Caestecker is best known for The Fades and Young James Herriot and will shortly be seen in the mini-series, The Secret Of Crickley Hall.

Joss Whedon will direct the pilot episode S.H.I.E.L.D, and is also writing the pilot script with Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen. It isn’t known when production will begin on this highly-anticipated pilot.

A few weeks ago info emerged that Marvel wanted Slither and Super helmer James Gunn to direct their planned sci-fi superhero movie, Guardians Of The Galaxy. A few days ago Joss Whedon seemed to confirm the news, talking about Gunn’s take on the film, but it’s only now the director himself has stepped forward and said he’s doing it.

On his Facebook page Gunn says, “As a lifelong lover of Marvel comics, space epics, AND raccoons, this is the movie I’ve been waiting to make since I was nine years old. Kevin, Joss, and all the folks at Marvel have been amazing collaborators so far, and we’re committed to bringing you something majestic, beautiful, and unique. I am incredibly excited. I am also incredibly grateful to the fans and the press for all their words of encouragement and support regarding my involvement with this project since the news first leaked. Thanks – you have, honestly, touched and overwhelmed me. And that’s it for now. Other than the occasional photos of my dog and cat here on Facebook, I’ll talk to you again in August 2014 when Guardians is released!”

The big-budget ensemble brings together characters such as Rocket Raccoon and Drax the Destroyer, although it’s still not 100% clear whether it’ll be animated or a live action mix.