Shocking.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has stated to Disney twenty-three magazine (via an IGN exclusive sneak peek at the interview) that post-THE AVENGERS will be "a new era and a new time in the history of our films" as both Captain America and Thor will definitely be getting their own sequels following IRON MAN 3 (the second film to be released in the Disney/Marvel merger), not to mention spin-off films for Dr. Strange, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and S.H.I.E.L.D. amongst many others, I'm sure.

"Thor will go off into a new adventure, and Captain America will continue to explore the modern world in another film of his own. We hope that holds true for the characters appearing in that film — Black Widow, Hawkeye, and the spy organization, S.H.I.E.L.D. — all of whom are more than worthy and capable of carrying their own films. And, we've got a lot of other characters we're prepping and getting ready for film debuts: the world of martial arts, these great cosmic space fantasies, Dr. Strange, and the magic side of the Marvel Universe. There are many, many stories to be mined."

Mined. Mined being the keyword there. For Feige to use such a currency-related term is no surprise, but still somewhat shocking nonetheless. But Marvel may be trying to cash a check before the money is in the bank, with THOR getting some pretty poor early reviews, not to mention THE AVENGERS being what is the most ambitious, yet potentially disastrous, film yet made in the Marvel realm. 

No doubt they will make money off property recognition alone, but will films like THOR make enough money to ensure a sequel is the question? After all, there are starving comic book artists out there that money could be used to feed.

Head over to IGNto read the rest of what Feige had to say about the future of Marvel and its film properties.