Joss Whedon Won't Add Characters That Makes Things Easier In 'The Avengers 2,' Says Iron Man Will Return

Joss Whedon is creating some real problems for his heroes in The Avengers 2. The writer/director recently said, yes, Quicksilver and Scarlett Witch will be in the film, but they won't be there to help the team. "I'm not putting any characters in the movie that will make things easier," the director said.

He also said, despite rumors to the contrary, Iron Man will be back for the 2015 sequel and that Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will "throw something in that foreshadows [or] echoes" events in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Lots of Joss quotes today. Read them all below.

Whedon spoke to IGN about The Avengers 2, which is where he confirmed Quicksilver and Scarlett Witch but also twisted their purpose:

You know, they had a rough beginning. They're interesting to me because they sort of represent the part of the world that wouldn't necessarily agree with The Avengers. So they're not there to make things easier. I'm not putting any characters in the movie that will make things easier.

So they may well oppose The Avengers in the film, and any other new characters could do that, too. Will The Avengers 2 be a superhero team vs. superhero team affair? Could it feature a major backlash again the team?

SPOILERS FOR IRON MAN 3 FOLLOW

Whedon also said, despite events at the end of Iron Man 3, Tony Stark would be back for the film:

Well, I feel like in Iron Man 3, even though he said, 'I've changed' — he blew up his remote suits, but I don't think anybody thinks he doesn't have one anymore. The question is, if The Avengers are called, does he show up? And the answer is, 'Yes!'

Finally, talking about the soon-to-air Tuesday night ABC show he's producing, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Whedon told TV Fanatic (via Comic Book Movie) that it would most certainly tie into the Marvel Cinematic Universe:

We're absolutely on top of all the movies. We never contradict, replicate – we will be flowing in between them, maybe occasionally we'll throw something in that foreshadows [or] echoes but we're very much beholden to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Any hint of what that could be? What do you draw from his comments on Iron Man, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch?