On this week’s show, we reported that plans are already in the works for a sequel to Iron Man.  Now with the $100 million plus opening weekend for the film, Marvel has announced its plans for the next several projects to be produced by the studio.

In addition to Iron Man begin back on the big-screen in 2010, there would also be a movie version of Thor set to open in July of that year.  2011 finds Captain America making his way to the silver screen and also an Avengers movie for summer viewin, reports USA Today.

Also on tap is an Ant Man movie, though no definitive date or timeline has been announced for the film.

This is in addition to the upcoming Incredible Hulk movie starring Edward Norton, due in theaters later this summer.

If you’ve a Marvel fan and a fan of the Avengers, all of this is good news.  And it appears that Marvel Studios is being very savvy about creating a ground-swell of anticipation among fans for the eventual Avengers film. 

“They’ve got so much cachet right now, it makes sense to take advantage of it,” says Paul Dergarabedian of Media By Numbers. “The key will be to getting the high pedigree of actors they had for Iron Man. If they can do that, they’ll push comic-book movies beyond being niche pictures and into a genre like romantic comedies or action-adventure — something that doesn’t have a stigma.”

No word yet on casting for any of the new films.  USA Today reports that Robert Downey Jr. is interesting in reprising his role as Tony Stark and that Gwyneth Paltrow is signed on for two more Iron Man films.