While he's still hard at work on Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron, Joss Whedon has confirmed he won't be returning to direct Avengers: Infinity War Parts 1 and 2.

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"I couldn’t imagine doing this again", the director told Empire Magazine (via Slash Film ). "It’s enormously hard, and it [will] be, by [the time I would make 'Avengers 3 & 4'], a good five years since I created anything that was completely my own. So it’s very doubtful that I would take on the two-part Infinity War movie that would eat up the next four years of my life. I obviously still want to be a part of the Marvel Universe – I love these guys – but it ain’t easy. This year has been more like running three shows than any year of my life. It is bonkers."Whedon's comments are in step with the rumour we heard last year that Captain America: The Winter Soldier sibling helmers Joe Russo and Anthony Russo are Marvel's pick to direct both The Avengers 3 and 4. Whether or not Whedon will stick around to write or produce remains to be seen, but it's clear that while he's strung out, he isn't in any hurry to leave the MCU.Avengers: Age of Ultron hit theaters May 1 this year, while Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 is scheduled to open 4 May 2018.

Lucy O'Brien is Entertainment Editor at IGN AU. Follow her ramblings on Twitter.