Captain America 3 Storyline Teased In 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier;' Release Date Confirmed

At the end of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, one chapter of the story is done, but there are many more to be told. That was by design according to directors Joe and Anthony Russo. Speaking about their film, which just had a record-setting opening weekend, the brothers confirmed the cliffhanger ending was part of the original, larger, story design and it will continue into Captain America 3. Below, read more as well as their quotes, but beware of major spoilers.

Plus, Marvel has officially announced May 6, 2016 as the release date for Captain America 3, as previously rumored.

Major spoilers for Captain America: The Winter Soldier below.

Captain America's greatest battle in Captain America: The Winter Soldier isn't with HYDRA, it's with his former best friend-turned-brainwashed super soldier, the Winter Soldier. It's obvious that attempting to reestablish a friendship he thought he lost decades ago is the most important thing to Cap. Which makes sense. All the members of his barbershop quartet are dead, Peggy Carter is aged, and sick. He has no one from his old life.

Unfortunately, the film doesn't tie up this story. Cap defeats the Winter Soldier, but the movie ends with that villainous character returning an act of mercy before disappearing into the woods. Only at the very end of the credits do we realize the Winter Soldier, played by Sebastian Stan, is becoming aware of who he really is: Steve Rogers' best friend, Bucky Barnes.

So, with Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America 3 pn the way (the latter to be directed by the Russos), we asked the directors the obvious. Was the Captain America 3 storyline directly referenced at the end?

Joe Russo: In the Marvel cone of secrecy, we won't divulge too much, but I will say this. The movie is clearly written as a two-parter. There is a, there would seem to, the next movie would seem to require a continuation of the journey of the Winter Soldier.Anthony Russo: Both on Cap's part and Winter Soldier's part. They both sort of are just–Joe: And that's not giving anything away. I think you can just glean that from watching the movie and seeing how the movie ends.

Very true. But the way they consciously decided not to finish that story in this film is pretty interesting. Will it have ramifications not only on Captain America 3, scheduled for release on May 6, 2016, but Avengers: Age of Ultron too? Will The Winter Soldier help Ultron?

Also, thanks to Marvel for this official announcement on the Captain America 3 release date:

Following the record-breaking premiere of Marvel's "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" this past weekend, the First Avenger will jump into his next big screen solo adventure in just a little more than two years on May 6, 2016!

Before the untitled "Captain America 3" hits theaters, though, fans can next see Cap when he joins the rest of Earth's Mightiest Heroes once more in Marvel's "Avengers: Age of Ultron" on May 1, 2015!