With Comic-Con approaching over the horizon like a giant pop cultural monster, talk has naturally turned to what Marvel Studios might have up its voluminous sleeves to announce at the event. The company is bringing a highly anticipated look at Iron Man 3, but rumours have been swirling about other films they could announce for future slots. Which pics? Try Ant Man, Guardians Of The Galaxy and Big Hero 6.

Let’s talk Ant Man first. Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish have been busily writing it on-and-off for years, but the character had to cool his heels in development while his fellow Avengers got their turn in the spotlight. Now the Hollywood Reporter brings word that Wright quietly shot a test reel for the movie this month, which will demonstrate the style and feel that he’s going for. Though that’s a definite leap ahead in terms of the film’s development, it still has yet to be officially announced, and Wright will be a little busy with The World’s End in the coming months. Still, there remains a chance that Hank Pym could be finally ready for his close up, even if it’s not in 2014.

Marvel has that lingering second slot to fill once Iron Man 3, Captain America 2 and Thor 2 have been shot, and rumours have begun to spread that a couple of movies could be in contention.

Latino Review is reporting that The Guardians Of The Galaxy might be the lucky winners of the second slot in 2014, a year that already boasts the Captain America sequel. The Guardians aren’t exactly a shocking choice, as Marvel has been considering them since at least 2010 when Kevin Feige first dropped a teasing mention of them. That was followed last year by news they were in development. Originally appearing in Marvel Super-Heroes in 1969, they’re a team assembled from various different species and planets in the 31st century with the aim of fighting off the evil Badoon, a race attempting to conquer the solar system. They’ve fought several other foes since then and were even re-launched in 2008 for a more modern incarnation. And since a recent run of the comics featured Thanos, the grinning blue ultra-goon who made a cameo during the end credits of The Avengers, there’s every chance that seeds were being sown for both hero groups. According to the Latino lads, the Guardians will be announced at Comic-Con. We’ll wait and see, but now the Hollywood Reporter is also quoting "sources" saying the team will be the big reveal.

Another, even more intriguing prospect is Big Hero 6, a super team created by Steven Seagle and Duncan Rouleau. Employed by the Japanese government as its state-sanctioned answer to the heroic likes of Captain America, it includes such notable figures as 13-year-old genius Hiro, powerful warrior Silver Samurai and secret agent Honey Lemon, who can access any object from her purse. No, we’re not kidding.

The Blue Sky Disney blog was able to dig up details on the film, which is apparently being eyed as an animated adventure crafted by Disney, but it’s still just an open writing assignment, so we wouldn’t expect it to be moving in time to be ready for at least two or three years.

So, some intriguing news, but all still floating in the rumour sphere until Marvel hits the panel stage…