Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has confirmed to Sci-Fi Wire that the upcoming "The First Avenger: Captain America" will be a World War II period piece.

Feige says the film, scheduled for release in May 6th 2011, will serve to set up the eventual "Avengers" movie to be released six weeks later on July 1st.

He also dismissed the recent Matthew McConaughey casting talk, but did confirm the object glimpsed in Tony Stark's workshop in "Iron Man" is part of the character's shield.

As for other properties, "Iron Man 2" is still on schedule for April 30th 2010, with talks underway with director Jon Favreau to return.

"Thor" is scheduled for July 4th 2010 with Mark Protosevich ("The Cell") currently working on the script. A director will be announced later this Summer, and much of the action will be set in the mythical Norse realm of the gods - Asgard.