In the past few years, Marvel have done an inspiring job of casting many veteran stars in their recent comic-book blockbusters ranging from Jeff Bridges and William Hurt to Tommy Lee Jones and Anthony Hopkins.

But perhaps their most audacious casting coup has arrived in the shape of acting legend Robert Redford who has been officially confirmed for a role in the upcoming Captain America sequel, The Winter Soldier.

Collider revealed the news on their website that the Oscar-winning actor/director of such New Hollywood films as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Sting (1973) and All the President’s Men (1976) had joined the eagerly-anticipated follow-up to the 2011 hit with the role not yet known.

Speaking at a Q & A in Los Angeles, Redford had this to say about his new project:

“I’m doing this film because it’s different. It’s a new thing for me… I think these films are really powerful. I think they’re great. This is the kind of film I would have loved to see as a kid… I like the idea of stepping into new territory. I’m excited by it. I also think it’s a good bunch of people who really know what they’re doing.”

The veteran has chosen to concentrate on making films nowadays with his directing career taking off when he won the Best Director Oscar for his work on the award-winning drama Ordinary People (1980). Since then, he has mostly appeared in low fare efforts such as The Horse Whisperer (1998) and Spy Game (2001) as well as making the likes of Quiz Show (1994) and The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000).

The move is an exciting one for Marvel fans as well as Winter Soldier directors Joe and Anthony Russo as they prepare to take charge of the sequel. Original stars Chris Evans (Steve Rogers/Captain America), Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter) and Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes) are back in action alongside newcomers Emily VanCamp (Revenge) as Sharon Carter and Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker) as The Falcon.

Avengers fans will also be pleased to know that Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow) and Cobie Smulders (Maria Hill) are involved too!

In the meantime, Redford’s next project sees him direct and star in the upcoming drama The Company You Keep which opens in the US next week.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier will be released on April 4th 2014.