UPDATE 4/7/2014 9:55 AM PT: Marvel has made it official, confirming that the third "Captain America' film will indeed open on May 6, 2016 -- the same scheduled debut as Warner Bros.' still-untitled "Man of Steel" sequel, featuring DC heroes Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. The announcement follows one day after the $96.2 million opening weekend for "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," breaking the record for biggest April opening in box office history.
Originally Published: Thu, March 13th, 2014 at 4:03pm PDT: Marvel Studios has had May 6, 2016 booked for an untitled project since June of last year, and on Thursday The Hollywood Reporter said that slot will be filled by a third "Captain America" film. That means Marvel's patriotic hero will find himself in a box office fight against DC's biggest icons, as the "Man of Steel" sequel -- featuring Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman -- is scheduled to open on the same date.
THR notes this is the current plan, but things could change, given factors like production schedules. The "Man of Steel" sequel was originally slated to open in 2015, before moving to 2016 this past January.
While a Marvel vs. DC conflict at movie theaters is certainly an intriguing prospect, THR casts doubt on this actually transpiring, writing that veteran observers doubt the films will actually open head-to-head."Marvel Studios also has July 8, 2016 and May 5, 2017 reserved for untitled films.
The second "Captain America" movie, "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," opens April 4. That film's directors, Joe and Anthony Russo, plan to return to the franchise for a third installment. The still-untitled "Man of Steel" sequel is set to feature the first big-screen interaction between Superman (Henry Cavill) and Batman (Ben Affleck), along with the live-action feature film debut of Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot).