Marvel Announces 'Guardians Of The Galaxy 2' For Summer 2017, Watch Full 'Avengers' Comic-Con Panel

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Guardians Of The GalaxyMarvel’s Comic-Con panel in San Diego Saturday night wasn’t very substantive—a lot of sizzle, not much steak. The audience there went ape over most of the teaser footage shown. Anyone desperate for news about Marvel mystery release dates, “Doctor Strange” or announcements of any Marvel superheroes newly headed for the big screen walked away empty handed. However, Chris Pratt and director James Gunn did come out at the very end of the panel to announce “Guardians Of The Galaxy 2.” The movie has been slated for a July 28, 2017 release.

It is all but assured that Comic-Con will conclude with seven Marvel titles still unnamed but scheduled for various dates through 2019.
 
I can’t say I’m totally surprised. Last year’s Marvel Comic-Con panel was also low on announcements: in total, fans received the final word on production for “Ant-Man” (with no release date at the time), but that was all a fait accompli. Beyond that, San Diego audiences received several new logos and the reveal of the ‘Avengers 2’ official title, “Avengers: Age Of Ultron.” It’s easy to forget that Warner Bros. dominated last year’s Con by announcing Zack Snyder’s “Batman V. Superman,” a film no one knew was coming.

A few details regarding Peyton Reed’s “Ant-Man” were forthcoming. Evangeline Lilly was confirmed as Hank Pym’s (Michael Douglas) daughter Hope Van Dyne (Janet Pym was The Wasp in the comics, so presumably Hope is their daughter) while Corey Stoll was unveiled as the villain Yellowjacket. But unless quotes like “It’s a mind bender…it’s really thrilling” (Paul Rudd) float your boat, one would be forgiven if one was underwhelmed. “Ant-Man” starts filming August 18th in Atlanta.

Frankly, Marvel did what it needed to Saturday and nothing more. Fans were already over the Edgar Wright fiasco (no hoots, hollering or gripes), and the studio will make major announcements in due time. I will bet any money Joaquin Phoenix doesn’t take the “Doctor Strange” role. There’s no reason for an actor of that caliber, who can pick and choose high-toned, Oscar-bait roles, to lock himself in a multi-picture deal for the lowball money Marvel is said to pay. This is a guy who’s been working with the crème de la crème of "respectable" filmmakers like Spike Jonze, Woody Allen and Paul Thomas Anderson. Phoenix is probably aiming to work with people like Scorsese or Spielberg. Why would a serious actor as such want to go work at the Marvel mill?

Not much to write home about! Tweet context and some Comic-Con interviews with the “Ant-Man” and “Avengers” cast below. Excelsior!

Marvel’s “Ant-Man,” will hit theaters July 17, 2015. “Avengers: Age Of Ultron” opens the same year on May 1st. Watch the entire Comic-Con panel for "Avengers: Age Of Ultron" and "Ant-Man" below as well as 40 minutes of interviews with the casts of both films.

Was it a disappointment? Well, possibly for fans wanting news, yes, but it’s not like Marvel announced announced a lot in 2013. You got the