Until now, Marvel’s post-Avengers plans have only extended to setting Iron Man 3 for a 2013 release, but now they’ve got another movie they want to bring out that year, with Thor 2 now pencilled in for release that year, according to Deadline.
As with Thor getting an early Summer release and Captain America coming a few months later, Iron Man 3 will arrive May 2013, while Thor 2 will be in cinemas July 13th. Whether Captain America will get a sequel in yet to be seen, as while Marvel already has plans for a follow-up, they’re waiting to see how the first movie does before setting anything in stone.
Kenneth Branagh however isn’t going to return to Thor, although apparently his leaving was entirely amicable (they always say that in Hollywood though, so it’s impossibly to say whether that’s true or not – although Marvel should be pleased with him, as he took a difficult character and turned it into a surprisingly well received movie). Chris Hemsworth however is contracted to return, and Natalie Portman should too (although she may not).
Thor has so far grossed $437 million around the world on a $150 million budget. Although not a gargantuan gross by summer movie standards, it’s certainly worth making another, especially as these days sequels tend to make more than the originals. The real question though is whether it’ll add to superhero fatigue, as with two Marvel movies this summer, the likes of The Avengers, Dark Knight Rises, Man Of Steel and (probably) The Wolverine next year, and Marvel already planning two more for 2013, the amount of comic book flicks is getting slightly ridiculous.