Disney Sets Release Date for 'Avengers 2'

Disney has set May 1, 2015, as the release date for Marvel Studios' sequel to The Avengers.

Last week, Disney revealed that Joss Whedon, who co-wrote and directed The Avengers, is returning for a sequel after signing an exclusive deal with Marvel through June 2015.

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The original, released in early May, is the third-highest-grossing film of all time worldwide ($1.46 billion) and domestically ($617 million).

The studio is in production on Iron Man 3 -- Disney said Thursday that star Robert Downey Jr. hurt his ankle on-set, causing a slight production delay -- and will release the threequel May 3.

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After that, Marvel plans to release sequels Thor: The Dark World on Nov. 8, 2013, and Captain America: The Winder Soldier on April 4, 2014. Next will be a Guardians of the Galaxy movie, which still is seeking a director. The release date for Guardians is Aug. 1, 2014.