New cast members for three comic-based film sequels were announced on Thursday.  Mads Mikkelsen is in talks to star as a villain in Thor 2, according to Variety.  Mikkelsen has villain experience from his turn as the villain in Casino Royale.  Thor 2 will release November 15, 2013 (see "'Thor 2' Gets Director").

Jon Favreau, who directed the first two Iron Man films, will continue his role as Tony Stark bodyguard Happy Hogan in Iron Man 3, according to Hollywood Reporter.  The third film in the series, directed by Shane Black (see "Rebecca Hall in 'Iron Man 3'"), is shooting now for release May 3, 2013.

The Iron Man and Thor sequels are two of the three Marvel features (the third is Captain America 2) that will be made before the next Avengers film (see "Audiences Will Have to Wait for 'Avengers 2'").

And last but not least, Anthony Hopkins is up for a role in the sequel to Red, based on the Warren Ellis comic, according to Deadline.  He’d join Catherine Zeta-Jones, Byung-Hun Lee, and returning cast members Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, and Dame Helen Mirren (see "Catherine Zeta-Jones Joins Cast of 'Red 2'").  The problem is that Hopkins is also slated to appear as Odin in Thor 2, so the scheduling would have to work for him to appear in both.