Disney Begins 'The Avengers 2' Development

When it takes a movie like "The Avengers" less than two weeks to eclipse a half-billion in box office gross, a follow-up is absolutely inevitable.

Disney CEO Bob Iger has announced this afternoon that The Walt Disney Co. has given Marvel Studios the thumbs-up to begin developing "The Avengers 2", Deadline reports this afternoon. The news follows reports the superhero team-up has made more than $700 million globally in the 13 days since its first release.

The $702.2 million "The Avengers" has made far and away surpasses grosses for the same period on "Captain America: The First Avenger" ($364 million), "Thor" ($449 million), "Iron Man" ($585 million) and "Iron Man 2" ($624 million).

Just when it would hit theaters remains to be seen. The success can be easily attributed to Marvel building up to "The Avengers" by intertwining the narratives in the two "Iron Man" movies, "Thor", "Captain America" and though Mark Ruffalo was subbed in for Edward Norton, "The Incredible Hulk". It makes absolute sense that Disney wouldn't suggest Marvel change horses mid-stream. The next several years have basically been plotted.

"Iron Man 3" and "Thor 2" look set for 2013. A "Captain America" sequel appears penciled in for 2014. There's no official word yet detailing officially when (or for that matter, "if") Marvel will make a sequel to "The Incredible Hulk" featuring Ruffalo.

So, get comfortable. At this rate, it could very well be not until 2014 at the earliest - more likely, even 2015 - that The Avengers again assemble.

Come to think of it....somebody might do well to remind Warner Bros. and DC that such a gap wouldn't be at all a bad time to perhaps finally put some additional force behind a Justice League movie.

Just a thought.