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.

Earlier today, we were treated to some images of concept art from Marvel’s Phase Two slate of films, courtesy of the release of Marvel’s Phase One box set today on Blu-ray.  Now, there is a sneak peek video for Marvel’s Phase Two available along with concept artwork and images that provide a look at Iron Man 3, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Thor: The Dark World, Guardians of the Galaxy and even Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man.

Hit the jump to take a look at the video, concept art and images from Marvel’s Phase Two films.

A couple weeks ago, Robert Redford joined the cast of Captain America: The Winter Soldier.  At the time, I joked with friends that by the end of shooting, Redford would be playing Captain America since the actor is notorious for strong-arming his way to larger and more glorified roles (e.g. The Hot Zone and The Last Castle).  Turns out my joke may have been half-true since today Redford said he’s playing “The Head of S.H.I.E.L.D.”  So in one fell swoop, Redford is now running S.H.I.E.L.D., and I believe it’s cruel to take a job from a half-blind man.

Joking aside, hit the jump for what Redford could have meant “Head of S.H.I.E.L.D.” when it appears that position has already been filled.  The film also stars Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Emily VanCamp, Frank Grillo, Cobie Smulders, Toby Jones, Scarlett Johansson, and Samuel L. Jackson.  Captain America: The Winter Soldier is due out in 3D on April 4, 2014.

With Marvel finally releasing their Phase One box set today, we’re starting to get a look at some of the extras included on the Blu-ray collection.  Earlier we got a sneak peek at a Phase Two featurette, and now some possible concept art has landed online that may or may not be included in the set.  The artwork provides us with a look at Cap and a transformed Bucky Barnes doing battle in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and also gives us a number of glimpses at director James Gunn’s absolutely massive-looking Guardians of the Galaxy.

Hit the jump to take a look at the possible concept art from Marvel’s Phase Two.  Captain America: The Winter Soldier opens in 3D on April 4, 2014 and Guardians of the Galaxy opens in 3D on August 1, 2014. [Update: A few more concept images from Captain America: The Winter Soldier have made their way online and are now included after the jump, including a first look at The Falcon.]

Though production is set to get underway soon, Marvel had one last-minute ace up their sleeve with regards to the sequel Captain America: The Winter Soldier.  Last week we learned the pleasantly surprising news that acting legend Robert Redford had entered talks to join the Captain America cast as a senior leader of S.H.I.E.L.D.  It marked a major casting coup for directors Joe and Anthony Russo, and the idea of someone like Redford stepping into the Marvel universe is incredibly exciting for fans.

Now Redford has commented a bit on the prospect of him appearing in a comic book movie, saying he made the decision to join Captain America 2 because he likes the idea “of stepping into new territory.”  Hit the jump for his full thoughts on the matter.

Another cast member has been added to the ensemble of Marvel’s sequel Captain America: The Winter Soldier.  We recently learned the surprising news that Robert Redford is in negotiations to play a high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. officer in the follow-up, and now it appears that another villain is being added to the ranks.  Sebastian Stan is already set to return as the titular soldier and Frank Grillo is poised to play the angatonist Crossbones, but now word comes that the villain Batroc the Leaper will also be appearing onscreen with UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre reportedly tapped to bring him to life.  Hit the jump for more.

Here’s your WTF story of the week: Robert Redford may be starring in a Marvel movie.  Reports have surfaced that Redford is in talks to join the cast of Captain America: The Winter Soldier as a “senior leadership role in S.H.I.E.L.D.”  This is a major get for Marvel, as Redford has relegated himself to acting solely in smaller indie fare or his own directorial projects for the past few years, with his last starring role in a “Hollywood” film that he didn’t direct being Tony Scott’s 2001 thriller Spy Game.  Given that Kevin Feige recently described The Winter Soldier as a “political thriller,” Redford should fit right in with the S.H.I.E.L.D. crew. Hit the jump for more, including the possibility of Redford popping up in other Marvel movies.

While DC and Warner Bros. are still trying to figure out what to do with their superheroes, Marvel already has the path laid out for “Phase Two”: Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Guardians of the Galaxy. Granted, all of the films except Guardians are sequels, but Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige says we shouldn’t be expecting more of the same.  Fans should anticipate new approaches, different sides of the characters, and trying to build it all to The Avengers 2.

Hit the jump for more.

Bryan Singer’s fantasy-adventure film Jack the Giant Slayer is now playing in theaters.  Starring Nicholas Hoult (X-Men: First Class) as the title character, the big-budget fairy tale follows Jack the farmer as he leads an expedition into the land of the giants in order to rescue a kidnapped princess (Eleanor Tomlinson). The film also stars Ian McShane, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Eddie Marsan, Bill Nighy and Warwick Davis.

Recently, I landed an exclusive phone interview with Tucci, who plays the film’s villain.  We talked about making the movie, script changes, doing press, how he got into acting, filming with 3D cameras and CGI monsters, collaborating with Singer, and more.  In addition, we also talked about his work in Captain America: The First Avenger, if he’ll make an appearance in the sequel, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, DreamWorks Animations Mr.  Peabody & Sherman, Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant, adapting City of Women, and so much more.  Hit the jump for what he had to say.

With the release of Marvel’s Iron Man 3 looming closer and Thor: The Dark World hitting theaters this November, the studio is set to begin production imminently on the third film of Phase Three, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.  While we know quite a bit about the film’s casting—Anthony Mackie is Falcon, Emily VanCamp is the female lead, Frank Grillo is villain Crossbones, and Sebastian Stan returns as Bucky Barnes—we actually know very little about where directors Joe and Anthony Russo plan to take the film’s story.  A tiny hint came today by way of Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, who describes the film as a political thriller.  Hit the jump to read on.

Last month, we reported that Hayley Atwell would not be reprising her role as Peggy Carter in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.  In an interview with TimeOut, she said she wouldn’t be returning.  However, Steve interviewed her Captain America co-star Stanley Tucci earlier today for Jack the Giant Slayer, and it looks like her comments may have been a little misdirection or the script has changed since her interview.

Hit the jump for more.  Captain America: The Winter Soldier opens in 3D on April 4, 2014.

For our final Toy Fair image article, we’re doing a huge roundup of NECA toy images.  While they’re making figures/toys for all the regular movies and TV shows you’d expect, the highlight of NECA’s 2013 lineup is the 60′s Batman featuring Adam West!  The reason it’s taken so long to get an Adam West Batman is lawyers.  From what I’ve been told, Warner Bros. owns Batman, while 20th Century Fox owns the show.  For years the two companies have been trying to work out an agreement to release DVDs/Blu-rays and new merchandise with little success.  However, late last year, the two companies finally worked out a deal and 2013 should see a lot of new toys and hopefully a home video release.  Which is great news for the fans.

In addition to checking out the first 60′s Batman toy in quite some time, you can also see new toys for Aliens, A Christmas Story, Captain America, Michael Keaton’s Batman, Carrie, Gremlins, E.T., Harry Potter, Hulk, Iron Man, Pacific Rim, Predator, Prometheus, Scarface, Rambo, The Hobbit, The Hunger Games, Thor, and a lot more.

One of the many films to premiere at Sundance this year was director Jordan Vogt-Roberts offbeat coming-of-age comedy Toy’s House.  Written by Chris Galletta, the film is about three unhappy teens (Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, Moises Arias) “who flee to the wilderness where they build a makeshift house and live off the land as masters of their own destiny.”  Toy’s House also stars Nick Offerman, Alison Brie, Megan Mullally, and Mary Lynn Rajskub.

Shortly after the premiere I sat down with Alison Brie for an extended interview.  We talked about her reaction to the photoshopped picture of her as Captain America, the Sundance experience, how she got involved with Toy’s House, what it’s like to play “Ron Swanson’s Daughter,” the new season of Community and how it feels without Dan Harmon, and more.  In addition, we talked about her role in the upcoming comedy Get a Job, pilot season, if she would consider doing another TV series once Community ends, the process of performing voice work on the upcoming animated film The Lego Movie, and a lot more.  Hit the jump to watch.

Rumor has it that ABC’s Revenge star Emily VanCamp is in talks for a lead role opposite Chris Evans in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.  Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, the sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger takes place after the events of The Avengers and puts Cap (Evans) in the present day.  Also starring Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Frank Grillo, Cobie Smulders, Toby Jones, Scarlett Johansson, and Samuel L. Jackson, Captain America: The Winter Soldier opens April 4, 2014.  Hit the jump for more, including just who VanCamp might be playing.

Production will begin later this spring on Anthony and Joe Russo‘s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and while there were rumors that the sequel would be shooting in Europe like the first film, we’ve learned that stages are already being built at Raleigh Manhattan Beach Studios in Los Angeles.  This isn’t a major surprise considering Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and Thor all shot at Raleigh in addition to other locations.  Captain America: The Winter Soldier will probably still do some shooting in Europe, and we already know that some filming will be done in Cleveland and New Mexico.

Hit the jump for a recap of other info about the film.  Captain America: The Winter Soldier stars Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Frank Grillo, Cobie Smulders, Toby Jones, Scarlett Johansson, and Samuel L. Jackson, and opens April 4, 2014.