Disney Bullish On Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Disney CEO Robert A. Iger held a first quarter earnings webcast earlier today where he spoke about the upcoming "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" and confirmed that the film "set critical events in motion" that directly lead into Joss Whedon's "The Avengers: Age of Ultron".

Iger also confirmed that depicted in n 'Winter Soldier' will also impact Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D on TV but avoided offering any specifics.

Talking about the buzz for the Cap 2, Iger says:

"I've really been impressed with the early buzz that we're seeing for the Marvel films. Captain America 2 is just huge and it takes the Captain America story to incredible new levels. Now, we're already in the marketplace with some marketing, but it's been relatively limited. We had a pre-game for instance in the Super Bowl. And yet the interest in Captain America films, which comes out April 4 here in the states, seems much louder than it would be for what I would call a non-branded film"

The story follows the acclaimed comic storyline The Winter Soldier by author Ed Brubaker, and  artist Steve Epting, in which Captain America's (Chris Evans) sidekick Bucky (Sebastian Stan) is resurrected as a brainwashed super-assassin known as the Winter Solider. The tale also follows that Peggy's (played by Hayley Atwell in Captain America: The First Avenger) niece Sharon (Revenge star Emily VanCamp) meets Cap.

Anthony Mackie is poised to play Harlem crime fighter Falcon. Cobie Smulders will reprise her role of Maria Hill. She joins her boss in The Avengers co-star Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson. for the film. Frank Grillo ("The Grey," "Warrior") will play the villain Crossbones in the sequel. Toby Jones, has confirmed to Hey U Guys that he will reprise the role of the villain Armin Zola. Maximiliano Hernández said via Twitter that he will reprise his "Avengers" role of Agent Jasper Sitwell in the sequel. Robert Redford (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) has entered talks for a senior leadership role in S.H.I.E.L.D. UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre will play villain Batroc the Leaper, an infamous mercenary in the Cap mythology.

Joe Russo and Anthony Russo are directing the sequel, using a script by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.

"Captain America 2" launches first in the UK and parts of Europe on March 26th ahead of a major global release (including the U.S.) the following week on April 3rd & 4th.

The Russo boys will return to direct "Captain America 3"