With The Avengers in theaters, Marvel Studios only needs to sit around and collect the cash as it continues to break all kinds of records with this blockbuster. But when it comes to their future projects, as they flesh out this comic-book universe, things are steadily moving forward and we’ve get casting news on the next two in line.

First up, Thor 2 is going for the bigger is better approach and adding another villain alongside Tom Hiddleston‘s Loki. Variety reports the man for the job is Mads Mikkelsen, known as the baddie in Casino Royale, but his best work showing through in Valhalla Rising, Pusher — and according to our recent Cannes review — Thomas Vinterberg‘s The Hunt. Details aren’t known on his role yet, but he’ll join Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman in the film set to be directed by Game of Thrones‘ Alan Taylor.

In other Marvel news, Shane Black has commenced production on Iron Man 3 and we’ve got two casting updates. Variety reports that, for some reason, Ashley Hamilton, from Dancing with the Stars and the entertainment show EXTRA, has been cast in the film as a villain opposite his “personal friend” Robert Downey, Jr. He’ll play the government cyborg Firepower, who is a “pilot of an experimental armored suit under the secret mission dubbed Project: Firepower.”

At this point they seem to be piling up the useless characters, but hopefully Black has a plan for all of this. In that plan also looks to be a returning character (and director), Jon Favreau. The actor tweeted from the set (see below), complete with his Happy Hogan chair, confirming rumors we’ll be seeing him pop in the film that also stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Ben Kingsley, James Badge Dale and Rebecca Hall.

Iron Man 3 will land on May 3rd, 2013, while Thor 2 arrives on November 15th, 2013.