Kevin Feige talks Thanos, Ant-Man and death in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe

In a recent interview with Empire, Kevin Feige revealed a few details on ANT-MAN, talked about the death in Marvel's Cinematic Universe, and says an actor has already been cast to play Thanos. There's a lot, so let's get right to it.

We'll start with Thanos, who was teased at the end of THE AVENGERS, and will play a big part in future Marvel films. Kevin Feige confirmed Thanos will appear in James Gunn's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY while speaking with Empire, and also says, "There is an actor. I'm not sure we want to announce it yet."

Kevin Feige goes on to talk a little about Edgar Wright's ANT-MAN, and says years of developing the planned film played a big part in shaping Marvel's Cinematic Universe.

It was two things – a story Edgar wanted to tell that we'll see with Michael Douglas and Paul Rudd, and now we're 11 films in, it's looking at the characters we've already introduced who already have the technology and the brains to do…certain things [Laughs].

We changed, frankly some of the MCU to accommodate this version of Ant-Man. Knowing what we wanted to do with Edgar and with Ant-Man, going years and years back, helped to dictate what we did with the roster for Avengers the first time. It was a bit of both in terms of his idea for the Ant-Man story influencing the birth of the MCU in the early films leading up to Avengers.

Feige continues with some comments on Paul Rudd's Scott Lang character in ANT-MAN.

Look at that origin of the petty crook who comes into contact with a suit and does his best to make good, and then look at someone like Paul Rudd, who can do slightly unsavoury things like break into people’s houses and still be charming and who you root for and whose redemption you will find satisfaction in.

Feige was also asked by Empire if Marvel had actually considered killing off Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury in CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER

We never actually discussed doing it, no. Maybe as part of a very early general conversation. But it didn't go particularly far before the idea that ended up in the film came up.

So will a major character be killed in AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, and would it be a permanent death?

You never know. Again, we take our cues from the comics and everyone knows that in comics and soap operas, people die and come back. Except for Uncle Ben and Bucky, but oh! Bucky's going to come back and it's going to be awesome. When appropriate to the story, we certainly will not hesitate. Frigga is dead. She's not coming back. Big funeral.

Kevin Feige also commented on how things will be a little different in AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON because of what happened to S.H.I.E.L.D. in CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER.

The dynamic certainly has changed. For us that was one of the benefits of doing this storyline – that it will force them to use something different in their next team-up than S.H.I.E.L.D., which basically provided the groundwork and the basis by which they assembled the first time.

Kevin Feige is very much aware CAPTAIN AMERICA 3 is scheduled to be released on the same day as BATMAN VS SUPERMAN, but he says it doesn't concern him or Marvel.

We had the flag there first. What other people do and where has always been less of our concern. It’s about keeping our head down and doing what we would believe would be cool for an audience to see.

Interesting stuff from Kevin Feige. Very curious to know who they have in mind for Thanos, and if Marvel is planning on killing off a major character in AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON.

Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY will open on August 1st, 2014, and AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON will be released on May 1st, 2015.