Marvel announces third ‘Avengers’ film

After the release of Marvel’s "The Avengers" last summer, the hype for superhero movies has grown. Fans are already itching to see more of their favorite comic book heroes, and Marvel is working hard to make that happen throughout the next few years.

So far, we’ve only been exposed to "Phase One" of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which consists of six films: "Iron Man," "The Incredible Hulk," "Iron Man 2," "Thor," "Captain America: The First Avenger" and "The Avengers."

"Phase Two" is set to launch in May with the release of "Iron Man 3." "Thor: The Dark World" will also be released in 2013, and "Captain America: The Winter Solider" and "Guardians of the Galaxy" will appear in 2014.

Joss Whedon will take on directorial duties for "The Avengers 2," which is slated for a 2015 release.

During the last year, there has been a lot of speculation about which films will be included in "Phase Three" of the MCU. Recently, however, Marvel’s Kevin Feige confirmed the Edgar Wright-directed "Ant-Man" movie in November of 2015 will be the official start of the phase.

"‘Ant-Man’ is definitely part of ‘Phase Three.’ Like ‘Iron Man 3,’ it’s certainly set in the Marvel Universe, but it’s also through the lens of Edgar Wright – which is the only reason we’re making the movie," Feige said in an interview with MTV News.

"It’s very much an ‘Ant-Man’ original movie from the perspective of Edgar Wright and his co-writer, Joe Cornish. It will, of course, be firmly planted in the MCU but a different corner than we’ve seen before."

In the Marvel Universe, Ant-Man is a superhero and member of The Avengers. Wright’s film will feature Dr. Hank Pym, the original hero, although there are multiple incarnations of Ant-Man within the comic universe.

Pym is a biochemist who discovers subatomic particles, that allow him to create size-altering formula. He also creates a helmet that gives him the ability to communicate with ants.

According to Feige, Wright has been attached to the project since before "Phase One" was even launched.

"I’ve known Edgar (Wright) since our first lunch together at Comic-Con in 2004. He asked me what Marvel was doing with ‘Ant-Man’–we weren’t even a studio then. What a difference eight years makes."

The only other film officially confirmed to be in "Phase Three" will feature Marvel hero Doctor Stephen Strange.

The comic book character Doctor Strange is a former neurosurgeon and current Sorcerer Supreme of Earth.

After a car accident damaged his hands, thus destroying his career in neurosurgery, Dr. Strange discovers a hermit in the Himalayas while searching for a cure. The "Ancient One," as the hermit is called, takes Strange as his disciple, leading him to become the most powerful magician in the world.

"‘Doctor Strange,’ which I’ve been talking about for years, is definitely one of them," Feige said of the films included in "Phase Three."

"He’s a great, original character, and he checks the box off this criteria that I have: He’s totally different from anything else we’ve done before, as is ‘Ant-Man,’ which keeps us excited."

It’ll be a while before we see a "Doctor Strange" movie—after "Ant-Man" in 2015—but Marvel should keep us entertained in the meantime. Don’t forget, we haven’t even seen "Phase Two" yet, which officially starts May 3 with the release of "Iron Man 3."