Marvel Phase 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy

With The Avengers out of the way, Marvel are moving on to their next round of films:

Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) is currently directing Iron Man 3.

Alan Taylor (Palookaville, TV's Game of Thrones) has just starting shooting on Thor: The Dark World.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier apparently gets underway next year, and will be directed by Anthony & Joe Russo (You, Me and Dupree, TV's Community).

The long-rumoured  Edgar Wright  (Shaun of the Dead) adaptation of Ant-Man keeps getting talked about (if not confirmed).

And Joss Whedon is back for Avengers 2 a bit further down the line (as well as being involved in all of the above).

Then there's Guardians of the Galaxy, which has a cast of characters that stretch credulity a little more than anything we've seen from the Marvel Universe on the big screen so far - since they include a warrior tree and a gun-totin' raccoon. What could make this work is that it has fallen into the hands of director James Gunn (Super, Slither) whose take on the film was described by Whedon as "twisted".

Today Gunn released the following statement about Guardians of the Galaxy:

"For a month or so there’s been a lot of Internet speculation about my involvement with Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Until now I haven’t said anything, because I’m trying to be less expulsive about this project than I am about the rest of my life. But last night I got the go-ahead from Kevin Feige to let you all know that, yes, indeed, I am rewriting and directing Guardians of the Galaxy."

"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!"