Avengers sequel set for May 2015

The Avengers are returning for a superhero sequel three years from now.

Disney and its Marvel Studios unit announced that the follow-up to this year's biggest hit will arrive in cinemas on May 1, 2015.

The studio announced last week that Joss Whedon will be back to write and direct the as-yet-untitled sequel.

Released in May, The Avengers gathered such Marvel comic book heroes as Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr), Captain America (Chris Evans), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth). The film has taken in nearly 1.5 billion dollars (£953 million) worldwide.

There will be plenty of Marvel action building up to The Avengers follow-up. Downey Jr's Iron Man 3 is due out next May, followed by Hemsworth's Thor sequel in November 2013 and Evans' Captain America sequel in April 2014.