Chris Evans Says CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER Starts Filming March 2013

With production underway on Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World, we’re already starting to see some set photos featuring the triumphant return of Chris Hemsworth’s Asgardian god.  Next on Marvel’s docket after Thor 2 is Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Chris Evans recently revealed to Steve exactly when that film starts shooting:

And for all the Marvel fans…Chris Evans says filming on the CAPTAIN AMERICA sequel begins in March 2013.

— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) September 10, 2012

That puts the film on roughly the same 13-month production timeline as the first Captain America, so directors Anthony and Joe Russo shouldn’t have a problem making the film’s April 4th, 2014 release date.  Hit the jump for a refresher on what we know so far about the follow-up.

As the title infers, we assume that Sebastian Stan will be back as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, which likely pits him as the film’s primary antagonist as he becomes a brainwashed Russian assassin known as Winter Soldier in the comics.  It was also announced that Anthony Mackie will be playing the character of Falcon in the follow-up, a character who derives his powers from a suit which allows him to fly and—in the comics at least—can telepathically talk to birds.  Samuel L. Jackson and S.H.I.E.L.D. are also expected to play a large role in the film.

A female lead has yet to be cast, but we recently heard that Anna Kendrick (50/50), Felicity Jones (Like Crazy), and Imogen Poots (Fright Night) are the possible frontrunners for the role.  The first film’s scribes Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely wrote the first draft of the script, but we haven’t heard much about the screenplay since the Russo brothers signed on to direct. Joss Whedon did a significant pass of the script for The First Avenger, and since he recently signed on to creatively consult on all of Marvel’s films in addition to doing The Avengers 2 one presumes he’ll have a hand in the development of The Winter Soldier.

As the March start-date looms closer, expect to hear more solid word on the film.  Captain America: The Winter Soldier opens on April 4th, 2014.