'Avengers' sequel planned for May 2015

LOS ANGELES (AP):

The Avengers are returning for a superhero sequel three years from now.  Disney and its Marvel Studios unit announced yesterday that the follow-up to this year's biggest hit will arrive in theatres on May 1, 2015.

The studio announced last week that Joss Whedon will be back to write and direct the as-yet-untitled sequel.

Released in May, The Avengers gathered such Marvel comic-book heroes as Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr), Captain America (Chris Evans), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth). The film has taken in nearly US$1.5 billion worldwide.

There will be plenty of Marvel action building up to The Avengers follow-up. Downey's Iron Man 3 is due out next May, followed by Hemsworth's Thor sequel in November 2013, and Evans' Captain America sequel, in April 2014.