The "Marvel Cinematic Universe" or "MCU" is a collection of 23 movies produced by marvel studios that take place in the same universe. They are based upon the Marvel comic book characters created mostly by Stan Lee amongst others. They tell an overarching story chronicling
These are split up into 3 distinct phases and films include:
Phase 1 (2008-2012)
Iron Man
The Incredible Hulk
Iron Man 2
Thor
Captain America:the first avenger
Thor
Avengers Assemble
Phase 2 (2013-2015)
Iron Man 3
Thor: The Dark World
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Guardians Of The Galaxy
Avengers Age of Ultron
Ant Man
Phase 3 (2016-2019)
Captain America: Civil War
Doctor Strange
Guardians of The Galaxy: Vol.2
Spiderman: Homecoming
Thor: Ragnarok
Black Panther
Avengers: Infinity War
Ant Man and The Wasp
Captian Marvel
Avengers: Endgame
Spiderman: Far From Home
It also consists of a number of tv shows airing on multiple different networks and streaming services. However fans have long debated the canonicity of these shows due to a lack of major connections the the movies.
ABC
Agents of SHIELD
Agent Carter
Inhumans
Cloak and Dagger
HULU
Runaways
Helstorm
Netflix
Daredevil
Jessica Jones
Luke Cage
Iron Fist
The Defenders
The Punisher
And a number of web series and shorts known as one shots released on as special features on MCU blu rays.
These films and TV shows make up the the infinity saga.
In 2008 Iron man was released by Paramount pictures to positive reviews. Though distributed by paramount it was produced independently by Marvel Studios (a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment). Iron Man was initially a B list character at the time and the success of the movie caused the character to become a house hold name. Marvel Studios was set up by Marvel in order to produce a series of films based on characters and Its that they still owned the rights to as many of there big name characters such as Spiderman, Hulk, X-Men and the Fantastic 4 had there movie rights sold off to different studios such as Fox and Sony during the late 90s to save marvel from bankruptcy. The critical and commercial success of Iron Man lead them to produce many more movies. Iron man also features a Post Credits scene that sets up the then in development Avengers movie skated to team up multiple characters from different films to fight off an intergalactic threat. Since this MCU films have become famous for their post credit teasers.
Later in 2008 universal pictures released The Incredible Hulk, however a deal between marvel and universal lead to Robert Downey JR. reprising his role as Iron Man/Tony Stark for a short post credits cameo. This connected the film to the MCU despite its tonal difference from the rest of the franchise. It is often considered the black sheep of the MCU and despite being canon, it is really ever referenced in future films or TV shows. By the time The Avengers was released in 2012, Ed Norton who originally played the HULK was re cast with Mark Rufflo. Norton and marvel later went on to say that Norton's departure was due to creative difference with Norton wanting to go with a more character driven approach whereas Marvel wanted to go with a safer, more action heavy approach. This is often a criticism of the MCU amongst cinephiles that they lack risk.
Acclaimed director Martian Scorsese gave his two cents on the MCU:
“I don’t see them,” revealed Scorsese. “I tried, you know? But that’s not cinema. Honestly, the closest I can think of them, as well made as they are, with actors doing the best they can under the circumstances, is theme parks. It isn’t the cinema of human beings trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences to another human being.”
On August 31, 2009, The Walt Disney Company announced a deal to acquire Marvel Entertainment for $4.24 billion, with Marvel shareholders to receive $30 and approximately 0.745 Disney shares for each share of Marvel they own. The voting occurred on December 31, 2009and the merger was approved. MCU movies continued to be distributed by paramount until 2013 when there distribution deal ran out. Walt Disney pictures has distributed every MCU film since Captain America: The Winter Soldier in 2014. This represents a major acquisition for Disney and a pre curser of what was to come as in later years they acquired PIXAR, Lucasfilm and even the entirety of 20th Century Fox in 2018
.
Comments