There Is A Possibility That Joss Whedon Will Direct Avengers 2

At the end of "The Avengers," the members of the crime-fighting team head off in different directions. But they'll certainly be back.

The Los Angeles Times got some time with Avengers director Joss Whedon just before the film's premiere two weeks ago, but only now has an intriguing titbit come to light online about the possibility of him directing Avengers 2.

“You know, I’m very torn. It’s an enormous amount of work telling what is ultimately somebody else’s story, even though I feel like I did get to put myself into it."

"Iron Man 3," "Thor 2" and "Captain America 2" are all slated for the big screen during the next two years. And the speculative hype for additional projects has skyrocketed in light of "The Avengers' " staggering $200 million opening weekend.

"We're not shy about believing that all our characters have great stories to tell," says Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige.

Iron Man will be the first to return with a solo project as his third installment begins production next month in North Carolina. Robert Downey Jr. and director Shane Black will bring back wise-cracking Tony Stark for a May 3, 2013 release.

FOR those of you who haven't yet had chance to see The Avengers - or Marvel Avengers Assemble as it's known in the UK - we are about to enter the world of spoilers so here's your one and only warning.

If you are among the masses who have watched the film - and propelled it to record-breaking heights at the box office - you will be aware that there is a teaser scene amid the credits that gives us the first onscreen look at the cosmic baddie Thanos.

We see The Other, leader of alien race the Chitauri (who Loki recruits as his otherworldly army), telling his shadowy master that attacking Earth "would be to court death". The master then turns and gives an evil smile.

With some rumors before the film's release claiming Captain America archenemy Red Skull was in The Avengers, the reveal of Thanos (see below) at least explains where that notion came from - although the comic book version is sometimes depicted as blue or purple.

Derived from the personification of death, Thanatos - a daemon from Greek mythology - Thanos was the diabolical child of writer-artist Jim Starlin. First appearing in Iron Man 55 in 1973, the god-like villain is a member of a race called the Eternals. He hails from Titan, a moon of Saturn, and strives to extinguish all life in the universe as tribute to his one true love, Death herself.

More women in big action movies? Sounds like a good thing – as does another Whedonesque Avengers 2, to be honest.

For more details on The Avengers and Marvel's ongoing plans for the characters that appear in it, be sure to listen to our Avengers spoiler podcast with Marvel studio head Kevin Feige below.