Avengers Line-Up Confirmed! Sorta

Let the backtracking and tap dancing begin. In an interview with SFX, Kevin Feige, head honcho of Marvel films, let slip a critical detail about the upcoming Avengers movie. Like who's gonna be in it and stuff. Kinda important.

"My only concern is that when we launch a franchise--whichever character's franchise that may be--it should stand on its own two feet... So by the time 'The Avengers' comes in 2012, it's not just a team superhero movie with a bunch of characters with powers. It's three people - four including the Hulk; five including Nick Fury - who you've seen before in other movies, coming together for the very first time."

That's pretty much a confirmation of the presence of three characters we were expecting: Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man. One we knew was involved but were unsure in what capacity: Nick Fury. And lastly, a character that has only been speculated on up to this point: The Hulk.  Still, there's been no movement on whether or not Ed Norton will be in the film to reprise his role as the jade giant. In no way does this mean that these will be the only superheroes involved. Feige's statement only makes mention of the characters we will have seen in movies by the time of the Avengers release. It's possible other characters without film presence will be involved. Personally, I'm still holding out hope for the Black Panther.

Feige goes on to discuss the process of melding all of these unique characters into one story, as well as the difficulties in melding Thor's mythology with the grounded nature of the Marvel universe. You can read details on the rest of his interview here.