Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki

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Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki
Marvel Cinematic Universe
"The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for its big spectacles and high-stakes plotlines."
Jennifer Walters to K.E.V.I.N.[src]

The Marvel Cinematic Universe or the MCU is a media franchise created by Marvel Studios and set primarily in a shared universe, with some installments also set in adjacent or branching realities.

Starting with Iron Man, the franchise is comprised mainly of films independently made by Marvel Studios, that are primarily set within this same universe, much like Marvel has done with their comics.

The franchise includes a series of short films, called Marvel One-Shots, launched with several films' Blu-ray releases starting with Thor and finishing with Thor: Ragnarok.

Starting with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the franchise expanded into television series, including series premiered on the ABC and Freeform channels, and on the Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ streaming platforms. The franchise also includes the news program WHiH Newsfront and the digital series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot.

Other contents include a series of tie-in comics and video games, released as promotional material to the films and series and therefore part of the franchise, even if some of them are set on these branching realities.

Movies[]

MCU Films Logos

The Infinity Saga[]

Phase One[]

  1. Iron Man (2008)
  2. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
  3. Iron Man 2 (2010)
  4. Thor (2011)
  5. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
  6. The Avengers (2012)

Phase Two[]

  1. Iron Man 3 (2013)
  2. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
  3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
  4. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
  5. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
  6. Ant-Man (2015)

Phase Three[]

  1. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
  2. Doctor Strange (2016)
  3. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
  4. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
  5. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
  6. Black Panther (2018)
  7. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
  8. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
  9. Captain Marvel (2019)
  10. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
  11. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

The Multiverse Saga[]

Phase Four[]

  1. Black Widow (2021)
  2. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
  3. Eternals (2021)
  4. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
  5. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
  6. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
  7. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Phase Five[]

  1. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
  2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
  3. The Marvels (2023)
  4. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) (unreleased/post-production)
  5. Captain America: Brave New World (2025) (unreleased/post-production)
  6. Thunderbolts (2025) (unreleased/filming)

Phase Six[]

  1. The Fantastic Four (2025) (unreleased/pre-production)
  2. Blade (2025) (unreleased/pre-production)
  3. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (2026) (unreleased/development)
  4. Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) (unreleased/development)

Undetermined Phase[]

Undeveloped Movies[]

Main article: List of Undeveloped Movies

Short Films[]

MCU One Shots logos

Marvel One-Shots[]

Phase One[]

  1. The Consultant (2011)
  2. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer (2011)
  3. Item 47 (2012)

Phase Two[]

  1. Agent Carter (2013)
  2. All Hail the King (2014)

Phase Three[]

  1. Team Thor: Part 1 (2016)
  2. Team Thor: Part 2 (2017)
  3. Team Darryl (2018)

Other[]

Special Presentations[]

MCU TV Specials logos

Phase Four[]

  1. Werewolf by Night (2022)
  2. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)

TV Series[]

MCU TV Series Logos Update

Marvel Television Series[]

Marvel Heroes[]

  1. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
  2. Agent Carter
  1. Inhumans

The Defenders Saga[]

  1. Daredevil
  2. Jessica Jones
  3. Luke Cage
  4. Iron Fist
  5. The Defenders
  1. The Punisher

Young Adult[]

  1. Runaways
  2. Cloak & Dagger

Adventure into Fear[]

  1. Helstrom

Cancelled Series[]

Main article: List of Undeveloped TV Series

Marvel Studios Series[]

Phase Four[]

  1. WandaVision
  2. The Falcon and The Winter Soldier
  3. Loki
  4. What If...?
  5. Hawkeye
  6. Moon Knight
  7. Ms. Marvel
  8. I Am Groot
  9. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law

Phase Five[]

  1. Secret Invasion
  1. I Am Groot
  1. Loki
  1. What If...?
  1. Echo
  1. Agatha
  2. Eyes of Wakanda
  1. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
  2. Marvel Zombies
  3. Daredevil: Born Again
  4. Ironheart

Undetermined Phase[]

Web Series[]

MCU Web Series logos
  1. WHiH Newsfront
  2. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot

Promotional Campaign Series[]

Behind-the-Scenes Features[]

Documentaries[]

Docuseries[]

MCU Docuseries Logos

Comics[]

Video Games[]

Web Browser Games[]

Undeveloped Games[]

Artbooks[]

Guidebooks[]

Inspired Content[]

Trivia[]

  • So far, the released movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have grossed $29,246,604,015 worldwide. It is the first major film franchise to cross the $9, $10, $11, $12, $13, $14, $15, $16, $17, $18, $19, $20, $21, $22, $23, $24, $25, $26, $27, $28 and $29 billion marks. It has also become the first franchise to cross the $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, $9, $10 and $11 billion marks domestically in North America and is the highest-grossing franchise of all time.
  • With Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the first and currently only film franchise where more than one film grossed $2 billion worldwide.
  • Due to financial difficulties Marvel faced in the past, they had to sell the film rights to several of their characters. Some of these sales are still in effect today, and thus the characters cannot be used in the MCU.[1] Interestingly, an alternate version of the post-credits scene of Iron Man featured Nick Fury mentioning that there are "gamma accidents", "radioactive bug bites" and "assorted mutants" in the "bigger universe" Tony Stark has become part of. This version ultimately went unused from the finished film likely because at the time, both the film rights of Hulk and Namor were owned by Universal Pictures, Spider-Man was owned by Sony Pictures Studios (which still owns them), and the X-Men were owned by 20th Century Fox.[2]
    • Due to 20th Century Fox owning the rights to the X-Men and Fantastic Four franchises, the X-Men films and its television series (Legion and The Gifted) and the Fantastic Four films all took place in different universes separate from the MCU.
      • Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe started with Iron Man, Fox considered using the character of Nick Fury in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, the second installment of their Fantastic Four original duology. However, as they would have been forced to purchase his rights, Fox desisted from using Fury and General Harper was created in his place.[3]
      • In The Wolverine, Viper/Madame Hydra appears as one of the film's villains, but given that the rights of HYDRA were already held by Marvel Studios when the film was released, the character was simply addressed as "Madame Viper" and her connections to the organization, S.H.I.E.L.D. or Captain America weren't referenced nor mentioned.[4]
      • Guardians of the Galaxy originally intended to feature the Badoon as Ronan the Accuser's mercenary henchmen, but had to be changed into the Sakaarans due to the Badoon's rights belonging to Fox.[5]
      • Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch fell under both companies' rights, as in the comics they are mutants by origin but are heavily associated with the Avengers. However, both companies had certain limitations:
        • Fox couldn't make any reference to the Twins' involvement with the Avengers.
        • Marvel couldn't make any reference to the Twins being mutants (resulting in them being referred to as "the enhanced" in Avengers: Age of Ultron), the children of Magneto, or their association with the X-Men.
      • Similar to Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, the Skrulls' film rights have been confirmed by James Gunn to fall under Marvel Studios and 20th Century Fox as they are associated with the Fantastic Four, but are an important part of the Marvel Universe and play prominent roles in the Kree-Skrull War and Secret Invasion events. As such, the Skrull race can be used in the MCU, while some specific Skrulls couldn't be used due to of Fox's sole ownership over them (such as Kl'rt the Super-Skrull).
        • In 2017, Marvel announced that the Skrulls would be the main antagonists of Captain Marvel, although when the film was released the announcement was proven false, as the Kree were the main antagonists of the film.
      • While writing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, James Gunn was unaware that the film rights of Ego the Living Planet belonged to Fox. With no back up plan, Gunn and Marvel Studios made a deal with Fox, who gave them back the film rights of Ego in exchange for those of Negasonic Teenage Warhead, whom they wanted to use in Deadpool.[6]
      • On a related note towards Deadpool, the character of Bob, Agent of Hydra was featured in the film, but similarly to Madame Hydra, his connection to HYDRA wasn't mentioned and he was simply referred as "Bob", because the rights of HYDRA were already held by Marvel Studios when the film was released (2016).
      • Although they debuted in a Fantastic Four comic, the Watchers appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, implying that both Marvel and Fox share the film rights to those characters.
      • X-Men producer Lauren Shuler Donner has expressed interest in having the X-Men join the MCU. Kevin Feige admitted that whenever he talks about it, it would result in "15 headlines" and that there hasn't been any movement on a deal, claiming it was the "same thing, same status". Feige has said "Yeah, of course" when asked if he wanted to see the X-Men and Fantastic Four in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
      • On December 14, 2017, Disney announced plans to acquire the film and television divisions of 20th Century Fox, which includes the rights to the X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Deadpool. This would mean that Marvel Studios would be able to use those characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe following the deal.[7]
      • On March 20, 2019, Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox was completed. This meant that the rights to the X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Deadpool had been given to Marvel Studios, and these characters could now be used in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.[8]
    • Similarly, Spider-Man's film rights are owned by Sony Pictures Studios, and both the Sam Raimi series and The Amazing Spider-Man series were set separate from the MCU; although after the last movie in the latter franchise, a deal was made between the two companies, resulting in another reboot of the series, this time set in the MCU.[9]
      • The initial indication of an element of cooperation between Sony and Disney was when Sony gave permission for Disney to use the Oscorp Tower from The Amazing Spider-Man in a background cameo in The Avengers; however, due to budget and time constraints, aside the fact that New York City's skyline was already finished, the idea was abandoned.[10]
      • On August 20, 2019, however, it was reported that due to Disney's inability to reach a new deal with Sony, as the former demanded all further Spider-Man films to be financed on a 50/50 basis with Kevin Feige in a consulting capacity but the latter preferred to keep the arrangement under the current terms, Tom Holland's Spider-Man would be consequently removed from the MCU unless a new deal is reached. There were no talks for it at that moment.[15] Fortunately, on September 27, 2019, it was announced by Sony and Disney that a new deal was reached and that Spider-Man: No Way Home was going to be produced again by Marvel Studios and be a part of the MCU, being scheduled for release in 2021.[16]
    • The cinematic rights to Namor currently lie with Marvel Studios, but due to "older contracts with other parties" it seems they couldn't use them yet.[17]
      • As of June 2016, the film rights to Namor now lie with Marvel Studios and can be used in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but they are not allowed to make a solo Namor film due to the older contracts.[18]
    • The film rights to Man-Thing lie with Marvel Studios, while they originally used to lie with Lionsgate, and thus he couldn't be used in the MCU at that time.
  • After the release of Iron Man, Marvel Studios made a deal to produce five further films with Paramount Pictures, being Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers, and Iron Man 3.[19] In 2009, Disney purchased Marvel and gained the distribution rights to The Avengers and Iron Man 3.[20] In 2013, Disney gained the distribution rights to Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger to close the acquisition of Marvel.[21] The Incredible Hulk was the only MCU film not currently owned by Disney due to a separate agreement between Marvel and Universal Pictures.[22]
  • A recurring theme in the solo films and television series is that the main protagonist often isn't the one who defeats the main antagonist or needs help from an ally to do so.
  • Ant-Man and Black Panther are the only protagonists who intentionally killed the antagonist.
    • Black Panther wanted to save Erik Killmonger's life, but Killmonger refused as he preferred to die rather than be locked up in prison.
  • The Marvel Cinematic Universe was visited off-panel by the Young Avengers of Earth-616 from the comics when they traveled throughout the Multiverse looking for Speed.[24]
  • All of the films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe are shot in the widescreen 2.39:1 aspect ratio except for The Avengers and Ant-Man, which were shot in the taller 1.85:1 aspect ratio, due to vertical subject matter including Hulk in the former and the shrinking scenes in the latter. However, all entries in Phase Three are presented in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio with select sequences opened up in the IMAX expanded aspect ratio of 1.90:1, except for Spider-Man: Homecoming which was presented in 2.39:1 throughout. Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame were filmed with IMAX cameras and were presented in the 1.90:1 expanded aspect ratio throughout both films only in IMAX theaters.
  • The official designation for this universe is Earth-199999; however, it's called Earth-616 in-universe, which is the official designation for the mainstream comics universe.

References[]

  1. Which Studios Own Which Marvel Characters
  2. https://twitter.com/DiscussingFilm/status/1172782239173636097
  3. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer - Audio Commentary
  4. 'Wolverine' Set Images Show The Viper
  5. Guardians of the Galaxy: From the Set of the Marvel Studios Adaptation
  6. Ryan Reynolds And Paul Wernick Talk ‘Deadpool’ Sequel And The Surprising Link To ‘Guardians 2’
  7. Disney-Fox Deal: Bob Iger Discusses Digital Future, James Murdoch, Hulu and $2B Cost Savings
  8. Disney Officially Owns 21st Century Fox
  9. Spider-Man is finally joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe
  10. How Spider-Man Was Almost In 'The Avengers'
  11. Sony Pictures Entertainment Brings Marvel Studios Into The Amazing World Of Spider-Man
  12. EXCLUSIVE: Sony’s Spider-Man Movies Happen in the “Same Reality” as the MCU
  13. As depicted in the film Venom: Let There Be Carnage
  14. As depicted in the film Morbius
  15. Spider-Man Could Leave MCU if Disney, Sony Can’t Reach Financing Deal
  16. Spider-Man Will Stay in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
  17. Kevin Feige Talks Guardians of the Galaxy, The Avengers & The Sub-Mariner
  18. Why ‘Wakanda Forever’ Villain Namor Won’t Get His Own Standalone Marvel Movie
  19. PARAMOUNT-MARVEL DEAL: Paramount To Distribute Next Five Marvel Films
  20. Disney to Distribute Marvel's Avengers,' 'Iron Man 3'
  21. Disney Completes Purchase Of Marvel Home Entertainment Distribution Rights
  22. THE INCREDIBLE HULK: Disney Won't Get Distribution Rights Back From Universal For Hulk Solo Films For a While
  23. ‘Incredible Hulk’ Is Finally Coming to Disney+
  24. Young Avengers Vol 2 #8

External Links[]

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