Marvel has sent out a press release announcing that filming has begun on Joe and Anthony Russo‘s Captain America: The Winter Soldier.  Few details about the film are known, but the press release provides a brief yet informative logline: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier will pick-up where Marvel’s The Avengers left off, as Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and teams up with Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), aka Black Widow, to battle a powerful yet shadowy enemy in present-day Washington, D.C.”  That’s a lot of new information, including the large role for Black Widow, and the setting, although we know there will be flashbacks to World War II.  Also, for those who don’t know, the “shadowy enemy” is the eponymous Winter Soldier, a.k.a. Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan).  The press release also confirms our earlier report that Hayley Atwell will return to play Peggy Carter.

Hit the jump to check out the full press release along with the first image, and click here for recently released concept art.  The film also stars Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Georges St-Pierre, Frank Grillo, Toby Jones, Emily VanCamp, Maximiliano Hernández, Robert Redford, and Samuel L. Jackson.  Captain America: The Winter Soldier opens on April 4, 2014.

Last Friday night at Comic-Con, Marvel premiered their latest short film Item 47.  Directed by Louis D’Esposito (Co- President of Marvel Studios) and starring Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Bradford, Maximiliano Hernández and Titus Welliver, Item 47 is about a hard-luck couple who get their hands on an alien gun that falls from the sky after the events of The Avengers.  For more on the short (which will be available on The Avengers Blu-ray) click here.  You can also watch my extended video interview with D’Esposito here.

The day after the premiere, I got to sit down with Jesse Bradford and Maximiliano Hernandez for an extended interview.  We talked about being at Comic-Con, how they got involved in the project, if the script changed during production, whether they’ve been signed for more Marvel movies, and a lot more.  Hit the jump to watch.

Marvel began releasing short films back on the Thor and Captain America Blu-rays, and they’re poised to premiere the latest short, Item 47, later this week at Comic-Con.  This one stars Lizzy Caplan and Jesse Bradford as a hard-luck couple who get their hands on an alien gun that comes into their possession following the events of The Avengers.  Two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents (Maximiliano Hernández and Titus Welliver) are tasked with retrieving this Item 47 from the couple and stopping their crime spree.  It’s a really fun premise, and I’m looking forward to checking out the full short.

A poster debut for Item 47 has just landed online, along with a brief clip that was released earlier, and you can take a gander at both after the jump.

Starting with the Thor and Captain America Blu-ray/DVDs, Marvel has started releasing short films.  The Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) shorts were cute, but nothing particularly groundbreaking.  However, Marvel might be adding some more weight with their latest “One-Shot”, Item 47.  The short film will be available on the Blu-ray/DVD for The Avengers (which hits stores on September 25th), but Marvel will show Item 47 at a special screening at Comic-Con.  The title refers to an alien gun that falls into the hands of a hard-luck couple (played by Lizzy Caplan and Jesse Bradford) after the climactic battle in The Avengers.  Two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents (Maximiliano Hernández and Titus Welliver) are tasked with getting the gun and capturing the couple, who are going on a crime-spree with their new toy.

Hit the jump for more details, and Marvel’s plans for future short films.  The 2012 San Diego Comic-Con runs from July 12 – 15th.