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Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase Three
2016–2019 group of superhero films From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a group of American superhero films produced by Marvel Studios based on characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics. The MCU is the shared universe in which all of the films are set. The phase began in May 2016 with the release of Captain America: Civil War and concluded in July 2019 with the release of Spider-Man: Far From Home. Kevin Feige produced every film in the phase, with Amy Pascal also producing Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and Far From Home, and Stephen Broussard also producing Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018). The creative team for Civil War and the crossover films Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019)—directors Anthony and Joe Russo and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely—collaborated with the directors and writers of each film in Phase Three.
The films star Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America in Civil War, Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange in Doctor Strange (2016), Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man in Homecoming and Far From Home, Chris Hemsworth as Thor in Thor: Ragnarok (2017), and Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther in Black Panther (2018). All returned for Infinity War and Endgame. Between those two films, Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly respectively starred as Scott Lang / Ant-Man and Hope van Dyne / Wasp in Ant-Man and the Wasp, while Brie Larson starred as Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel in Captain Marvel (2019); all three returned for Endgame. Evans and Holland have the most appearances in the phase, each starring or making cameo appearances in five of the films.
The phase's eleven films grossed over US$13.5 billion at the global box office and received generally positive critical and public responses. Endgame became the highest-grossing film at the time of its release.[a] The phase is seen as the franchise's best, with consistent quality and a cohesive overarching story. Marvel Studios created the Team Thor mockumentary shorts series to expand on Thor's portrayal in Ragnarok, while each film received tie-in comic books. Phases One, Two, and Three make up "The Infinity Saga" storyline.
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On October 28, 2014, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige announced the full slate of films that the studio planned to release as part of Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU): Captain America: Civil War (2016), Doctor Strange (2016), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Black Panther (2018), Captain Marvel (2018), and Inhumans (2018), as well as the culminating crossover films Avengers: Infinity War – Part 1 (2018) and Avengers: Infinity War – Part 2 (2019). Feige made this announcement at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles,[2] in an event that drew comparisons to Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference.[3] Feige explained that the studio had wanted to announce all of the titles at San Diego Comic-Con earlier in 2014, but "things were not set" for the slate at that point, so the one-off event was used instead once all of the films could be confirmed. Marvel Studios had never done a solo event such as this before. Feige anticipated that it would occur in early August or mid-September before the October date was settled on.[4]
The 2014 Sony Pictures hack, which saw confidential Sony Pictures data being leaked online, revealed that Sony and Marvel were having conversations about potentially sharing the popular Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. Marvel wanted to introduce a new version of Spider-Man in Civil War and then have the character continue working with the Avengers in future films, while allowing Sony to keep creative control and use him in their own Spider-Man movies and spin-offs. There was also potential for Sony to use some of Marvel's characters. On February 9, 2015, Marvel officially announced a deal with Sony Pictures to allow Spider-Man to appear in the MCU.[5][6] In June, Tom Holland was revealed to have been cast as Peter Parker / Spider-Man for Civil War and the next Sony Spider-Man film, later announced as Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017).[7][8] The addition of Homecoming and the sequel Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) to the Phase Three slate led to date changes for Ragnarok (later in 2017), Black Panther (2018), and Captain Marvel (2019). Inhumans was removed from the release schedule, though it was not outright canceled.[9] In November 2016, Feige said "Inhumans will happen for sure. I don't know when. I think it's happening on television. And I think as we get into Phase Four as I've always said, it could happen as a movie."[10] Shortly after, Marvel Television and IMAX Corporation announced the eight-episode television series Inhumans (2017), to be produced with ABC Studios and air on ABC;[11][12] Marvel Studios decided that the characters were better suited to television, rather than trying to fit multiple potential Inhumans franchise films around the studio's existing film slate.[13] The Inhumans series was not intended to be a reworking of the planned film.[11]
In July 2016, Avengers: Infinity War – Part 1 was retitled Avengers: Infinity War,[14] while Part 2 was left untitled until the release of its first teaser trailer in December 2018, when it was revealed to be Avengers: Endgame. After the title was revealed, Feige said withholding it for so long had backfired on the studio due to the high expectations that fans had set for the reveal. Despite this, Feige stood by the decision. He explained that the October 2014 Infinity War announcement had taken attention away from Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and the studio did not want to repeat that mistake by announcing Endgame's title before Infinity War was released.[15] Civil War, Infinity War, and Endgame were directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. There was a large amount of collaboration between them and the other Phase Three directors and writers to make sure "everything line[d] up right" for the MCU's culmination in Infinity War and Endgame.[16] Peyton Reed, director of Ant-Man (2015) and Ant-Man and the Wasp, felt the relationship and collaboration between the Phase Three directors was "probably the closest thing that this generation will have to a '30s- or '40s-era studio system where you are all on the lot and you are all working on different things."[17]
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Films
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Captain America: Civil War (2016)
The Avengers become fractured into two opposing teams, one led by Steve Rogers and another by Tony Stark, after extensive collateral damage prompts politicians to pass an act regulating superhuman activity with government oversight and accountability for the Avengers. They also face a new enemy, Helmut Zemo, who seeks revenge upon the Avengers.[39][40]
By January 2014, Anthony and Joe Russo had signed on to return to direct a third Captain America installment, which they confirmed in March 2014, with Chris Evans returning as Captain America, Kevin Feige returning to produce, and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely writing the screenplay.[19][41] In October 2014, the title was officially announced as Captain America: Civil War along with the reveal that Robert Downey Jr. would appear in the film as Tony Stark / Iron Man.[42][43] The film is an adaptation from the "Civil War" storyline in the comics.[44] It is also the first film of Phase Three.[4][45][46] Filming began in April 2015 at Pinewood Atlanta Studios,[47][48] and concluded in August 2015.[49] Captain America: Civil War had its premiere in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on April 12, 2016,[50] was released internationally beginning April 27,[51] and was released on May 6 in the United States.[52]
Civil War is set one year after the events of Age of Ultron.[53] It introduces Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man and Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther ahead of their own films.[7][54] William Hurt reprises his role as Thaddeus Ross from The Incredible Hulk (2008), with the character now being the U.S. Secretary of State.[55] For the mid-credits scene, in which T'Challa offers Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes asylum in Wakanda, the filmmakers received input from Black Panther director Ryan Coogler on the look and design of Wakanda.[56]
Doctor Strange (2016)
When a car accident ruins the career of Dr. Stephen Strange, the world's top neurosurgeon, he sets out on a journey of healing and encounters the Ancient One, who teaches Strange how to use the Mystic Arts and to defend the Earth from mystical threats.[57][58]
In June 2010, Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer were hired to write the screenplay for a film starring the character Doctor Strange in June 2010.[59] Feige confirmed that Strange would be part of Phase Three in January 2013.[60] Scott Derrickson was hired to direct in June 2014,[20] and Benedict Cumberbatch was cast in the title role that December when Jon Spaihts was rewriting the script.[61][62] C. Robert Cargill revealed he was co-writing the film a year later,[63] alongside Derrickson.[64] Pre-production began in June 2014,[65] and filming beginning in November 2015 in Nepal, before moving to Longcross Studios in the United Kingdom.[66][67] Filming concluded in New York City in April 2016.[68][69] Doctor Strange had its premiere in Hong Kong on October 13, 2016,[70] and was released in the UK on October 25,[71] and in the U.S. on November 4.[43]
Derrickson said the events of Doctor Strange take "roughly" a year, ending "up to date with the rest of the MCU",[72] with Cargill stating that it begins in February 2016 and ends later that year.[73] Doctor Strange introduces the Eye of Agamotto, a mystical relic that can manipulate time and is revealed to be an Infinity Stone at the end of the film,[72] specifically the Time Stone.[74] The film's mid-credits scene features a cameo appearance by Chris Hemsworth reprising his MCU role of Thor, meeting with Strange, which is footage from Thor: Ragnarok. The scene was directed by Ragnarok director Taika Waititi.[74]
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
The Guardians of the Galaxy travel throughout the cosmos and struggle to keep their newfound family together while facing new enemies and helping Peter Quill learn more about his true parentage.[75]
In July 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy co-writer Nicole Perlman confirmed that James Gunn would return to write and direct the sequel.[22][76] Chris Pratt returns as Peter Quill / Star-Lord,[77][78] along with the other Guardians from the first film as well as additional cast members.[78] They are joined by Pom Klementieff as Mantis,[78][79] and Kurt Russell as Ego.[78][80] In June 2015, the film's title was revealed as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.[81] Filming began in February 2016 at Pinewood Atlanta Studios,[82][83] and concluded in June 2016.[84] Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 premiered in Tokyo on April 10, 2017,[85] and was released theatrically on May 5.[43]
The film is set two-to-three months after the events of Guardians of the Galaxy,[86][87] in 2014.[88] One of the film's post-credit sequences hints at the introduction of Adam Warlock,[89] after Gunn originally intended for Warlock to make a full appearance in Vol. 2. He said the character was considered to be "a pretty important part" of the cosmic side of the MCU;[90] the character is introduced fully in the sequel Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) portrayed by Will Poulter.[91] The Grandmaster, played by Jeff Goldblum, is seen dancing during Vol. 2's end credits ahead of his role in Thor: Ragnarok.[92]
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Peter Parker tries to balance being the hero Spider-Man with his high school life, under the guidance of Tony Stark, as he deals with the threat of the Vulture.[93][94]
On February 9, 2015, Sony Pictures and Marvel announced that Sony would be releasing a Spider-Man film co-produced by Feige and Amy Pascal, with Sony Pictures continuing to own, finance, distribute, and have final creative control of the Spider-Man films.[5] Feige said Marvel had been working to add Spider-Man to the MCU since at least the October 2014 announcement, saying, "Marvel doesn't announce anything officially until it's set in stone. So we went forward with that Plan A in October, with the Plan B being, if [the deal] were to happen with Sony, how it would all shift. We've been thinking about [the Spider-Man film] as long as we've been thinking about Phase Three."[95] In June 2015, Tom Holland was cast in the role of Spider-Man and Jon Watts was hired to direct the film.[23] John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein were hired to write the screenplay the next month.[96] Additional screenwriters included Watts and Christopher Ford, and Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers.[24] In April 2016, the title was revealed to be Spider-Man: Homecoming.[97] Production began in June 2016 at Pinewood Atlanta Studios,[98][99] and concluded in October 2016.[100] Spider-Man: Homecoming premiered on June 28, 2017, in Hollywood, Los Angeles,[101] and was released in the UK on July 5,[102] and the U.S. on July 7.[103]
The film is set several months after the events of Civil War,[104] which is four years after the events of The Avengers (2012).[105] In April 2016, Feige confirmed that characters from previous MCU films would appear in the film,[106] with Robert Downey Jr. confirmed to reprise his role as Tony Stark / Iron Man shortly thereafter.[107] Jon Favreau, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Chris Evans also reprise their respective roles as Happy Hogan,[108] Pepper Potts,[109] and Steve Rogers / Captain America.[110] The cleanup crew Damage Control appear in the film, after previously being referenced in Iron Man (2008) and the MCU television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020), ahead of a then-planned television series about them.[111][112][113] Various weapons and artifacts from previous MCU films are seen or referenced throughout Homecoming as part of Toomes and his crew repurposing technology for their weapons. At Parker's high school, one of his classes has a lesson about the Sokovia Accords from Civil War,[114] and portraits of well-known MCU scientists Bruce Banner, Howard Stark, and Abraham Erskine are seen within the school.[115]
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Thor, trapped on another world without Mjolnir, must survive a gladiatorial duel against the Hulk and return to Asgard in time to stop the villainous Hela and the impending Ragnarök.[116]
Marvel announced that a third Thor film was in development in January 2014, with Craig Kyle and Christopher L. Yost writing the screenplay.[117] It was titled Thor: Ragnarok in October 2014.[43] By a year later, Taika Waititi entered negotiations to direct the film.[25][118] Stephany Folsom was hired to rewrite the script in December 2015.[119] The screenplay was ultimately credited to Eric Pearson, Kyle, and Yost.[26][27] Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, and Anthony Hopkins reprise their respective roles as Thor, Loki, Heimdall, and Odin, and are joined by Cate Blanchett as Hela.[120] Production began in July 2016 in Australia at Village Roadshow Studios,[121][122] and wrapped in late October.[123] Thor: Ragnarok premiered in Los Angeles on October 10, 2017,[124] began its international release on October 24 in the UK,[125] and was released on November 3 in the U.S.[126]
The film is set four years after the events of Thor: The Dark World (2013), two years after Age of Ultron,[127][128] and around the same time period as Civil War and Homecoming. Producer Brad Winderbaum stated, "Things happen on top of each other now in Phase Three. They're not as interlocked as they were in Phase One."[129] Mark Ruffalo reprises his MCU role of Bruce Banner / Hulk, with Benedict Cumberbatch also returning as Dr. Stephen Strange from Doctor Strange.[74][120] The film reveals that the Infinity Gauntlet first seen in Odin's vault in Thor (2011) is a fake,[130] and introduces Thanos's ship Sanctuary II in a post-credits scene.[131]
Black Panther (2018)
T'Challa returns home as sovereign of the nation of Wakanda only to find his dual role of king and protector challenged by a long-time adversary in a conflict that has global consequences.[132]
Documentary filmmaker Mark Bailey was hired to write a script for Black Panther in January 2011.[133] In October 2014, the film was announced and Chadwick Boseman was revealed to be portraying T'Challa / Black Panther.[43][54] In January 2016, Ryan Coogler was announced as director,[28] and the following month, Joe Robert Cole was confirmed as the film's screenwriter.[29] In April 2016, Feige confirmed that Coogler was a co-screenwriter.[30] Filming began in January 2017 at EUE/Screen Gems Studios in Atlanta,[134][135] and concluded in April.[136] Black Panther premiered in Los Angeles on January 29, 2018,[137] and began its international release on February 13.[138] It was released in the U.S. on February 16,[139] and also had a "cross-nation release" in Africa, a first for a Disney film.[140][141]
Black Panther is set one week after the events of Civil War.[132] Florence Kasumba,[142] Andy Serkis, Martin Freeman, and John Kani reprise their respective roles as Ayo, Ulysses Klaue, Everett K. Ross, and T'Chaka from previous MCU films.[132] The film's post-credits scene features a cameo appearance by Sebastian Stan, reprising his role as Bucky Barnes.[143]
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
The Avengers join forces with the Guardians of the Galaxy to try to stop Thanos from collecting all of the Infinity Stones.[144]
The film was announced in October 2014 as Avengers: Infinity War – Part 1.[43] In April 2015, Marvel announced that Anthony and Joe Russo would direct the film and in May, that Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely would write the screenplay.[31][32] In July 2016, Marvel revealed the title would be shortened to simply Avengers: Infinity War.[145] Josh Brolin reprises his role as Thanos,[146][147] and is part of an ensemble cast featuring many actors who have appeared in other MCU films. Filming for Infinity War began in January 2017 in Atlanta,[134][148] and lasted until that July.[149] Additional filming also took place in Scotland.[150] Avengers: Infinity War premiered in Los Angeles on April 23, 2018.[151] It was released worldwide on April 27, with a few debuts beginning as early as April 25 in some countries.[152]
The film is set two years after the events of Civil War.[153] Marvel had been planting the seeds for Infinity War since their early films, by introducing the Infinity Stones as MacGuffins: the Tesseract / Space Stone in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Loki's Scepter / Mind Stone in The Avengers, the Aether / Reality Stone in The Dark World, the Orb / Power Stone in Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Eye of Agamotto / Time Stone in Doctor Strange.[74] Additionally, Thanos is shown holding an empty Infinity Gauntlet in Age of Ultron.[154] The Red Skull from The First Avenger appears in the film, played by Ross Marquand instead of Hugo Weaving, and is the keeper of the final Infinity Stone, the Soul Stone.[155] The post-credits scene features Nick Fury transmitting a distress signal on a device that has the insignia of Captain Marvel.[156]
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
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While under house arrest due to his actions during Civil War, Scott Lang / Ant-Man is approached by Hope van Dyne / Wasp and Hank Pym about a new mission.[34][157]
Ant-Man and the Wasp was announced in October 2015.[139] Peyton Reed confirmed that he would return to direct in November 2015, and that Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly would reprise their roles as Scott Lang / Ant-Man and Hope van Dyne / Wasp, respectively.[33] The next month, Andrew Barrer, Gabriel Ferrari, and Rudd were confirmed to be writing the screenplay,[158] with Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers revealed to have also contributed to the script in August 2017.[34] In February 2017, Michael Douglas confirmed he would reprise his role as Hank Pym.[159] Michelle Pfeiffer was cast as Janet van Dyne in July,[160] and filming began a month later in Atlanta. Additional filming took place in San Francisco,[34] and production ended in November 2017.[161] Stephen Broussard also served as a producer on the film.[162] Ant-Man and the Wasp had its premiere in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on June 25, 2018,[163] and was released in the U.S. on July 6.[139]
The film is set two years after the events of Civil War in the lead up to Infinity War, showing what Lang is doing during the events of the latter.[157][164] In the mid-credits scene, Hope van Dyne, Hank Pym, and Janet van Dyne are disintegrated as a result of Thanos's actions at the end of Infinity War.[165]
Captain Marvel (2019)
Carol Danvers becomes Captain Marvel, one of the galaxy's strongest heroes, after the Earth is caught in the center of an intergalactic conflict between two alien worlds.[166]
In May 2013, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Marvel had a working script based on the character Ms. Marvel.[167] In October 2014, Marvel announced the film would be titled Captain Marvel and feature Carol Danvers.[43] In April 2015, Nicole Perlman and Meg LeFauve were announced as screenwriters.[168] At the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con, Brie Larson was confirmed to play the role of Carol Danvers.[169] In April 2017, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck were hired to direct.[35] That August, Geneva Robertson-Dworet was revealed to be taking over as the film's screenwriter.[170] Boden, Fleck, and Robertson-Dworet received final screenplay credits on the film.[36] Location filming occurred in January 2018,[171][172] while principal photography began in March in Los Angeles[173] and concluded in July.[174] The film was released on March 8, 2019.[139]
Captain Marvel is set in 1995.[175] Samuel L. Jackson, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, and Clark Gregg reprise their MCU roles as Nick Fury, Korath, Ronan the Accuser, and Phil Coulson, respectively,[176][177] while the Skrull species are introduced to the MCU.[178] The Russo brothers filmed the mid-credits scene, which takes place shortly before the first scenes of Avengers: Endgame and features Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff, Don Cheadle as James Rhodes, and Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner. The post-credits scene shows Goose regurgitating the Tesseract on Fury's desk after swallowing it during the film's third act.[179]
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
After half of all life in the universe was killed due to the actions of Thanos in Infinity War, the remaining Avengers and their allies must reassemble to revert those actions in one final stand.[180]
The film was announced in October 2014 as Avengers: Infinity War – Part 2.[43] In April 2015, it was revealed that Anthony and Joe Russo would direct the film and in May, that Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely would write the screenplay.[31][32] In July 2016, the title was temporarily changed to Untitled Avengers,[145] before the actual title was revealed as Avengers: Endgame in December 2018.[181] Brolin reprises his role as Thanos,[146][147] and is part of an ensemble cast featuring many actors who have appeared in other MCU films. Filming began in August 2017 in Atlanta,[182] and ended in January 2018.[183] The film was released on April 26, 2019.[181]
Endgame begins three weeks after the events of Infinity War, before jumping ahead five years.[184] It does not have a post-credits scene, but features the sound of an Iron Man suit being hammered at the end of the credits as a callback to the first MCU film Iron Man.[185] A teaser trailer for Spider-Man: Far From Home was played after the credits in some screenings of the film a week after it was first released.[186] Endgame was intended to mark the final appearances of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark and Chris Evans as Steve Rogers,[187][188] though both actors later returned to the franchise in different roles.[189][190]
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Peter Parker goes on a school trip to Europe with his friends. While abroad, he is recruited by Nick Fury to team up with Quentin Beck to battle the Elementals.[191][192]
In December 2016, Sony Pictures scheduled a sequel to Homecoming for release on July 5, 2019.[193] A year later, Watts was confirmed to be returning to direct.[37] Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers returned to write the script.[38] Holland revealed the film's title as Spider-Man: Far From Home in late June 2018.[194] Filming began in July 2018 in England,[195] with filming also occurring in the Czech Republic, Venice,[196] and New York City,[197] and lasted until October.[198] It was believed that the film would be the first film in Phase Four until April 2019, when Feige said Far From Home would serve as the final film of Phase Three.[199] He later added that it would also be the conclusion to "The Infinity Saga".[200] Spider-Man: Far From Home had its premiere in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on June 26, 2019,[201] and was released in the U.S. on July 2.[202]
The film is set eight months after Endgame.[203] Samuel L. Jackson and Cobie Smulders reprise their roles as Nick Fury and Maria Hill, respectively, from previous MCU media.[204] The mid-credits scene features J. K. Simmons reprising his role as J. Jonah Jameson, having previously portrayed a different incarnation of the character in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film trilogy.[205] The post-credits scene reveals that Fury and Hill in the film are actually the shapeshifting Skrulls Talos and Soren, with the real Nick Fury shown to be in space. Ben Mendelsohn and Sharon Blynn reprise their respective roles as Talos and Soren from Captain Marvel.[206]
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Timeline
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| 1995 | Captain Marvel[175] | |
| 1996–2013 | ||
| 2014 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2[87] | |
| 2015 | (Age of Ultron) | |
| 2016 | Civil War[207][53] | |
| Black Panther[132] | ||
| Homecoming[104] | ||
| 2016–2017 | Doctor Strange[208][73] | |
| 2017 | Ragnarok[127][128] | |
| 2018 | Ant-Man and the Wasp[157] | |
| Infinity War[153][184] | ||
| 2019–2022 | ||
| 2023 | Endgame[184] | |
| 2024 | Far From Home[203] | |
As with Phase Two, the Russo brothers wanted their Phase Three films to use real time, with Civil War set a year after Age of Ultron,[53] and Infinity War set two years after that.[153] Winderbaum said the Phase Three films would "happen on top of each other" while being less "interlocked" as the Phase One films,[129] with Black Panther and Homecoming respectively beginning a week and two months after Civil War;[104][132] Ragnarok beginning four years after The Dark World and two years after Age of Ultron,[127][128] which is around the same time as Civil War and Homecoming;[129] Doctor Strange taking place over a whole year and ending in late 2016,[73] "up to date with the rest of the MCU";[72] Ant-Man and the Wasp also set two years after Civil War and shortly before Infinity War;[157] and both Guardians of the Galaxy and its sequel Vol. 2 being explicitly set in 2014,[87][88] which Feige believed would create a four-year gap between Vol. 2 and Infinity War, though other MCU films up to that point do not specify years onscreen.[209] Captain Marvel is set in 1995.[175] Endgame begins shortly after Infinity War and ends in 2023 after a five-year time jump.[184] It confirms dates for several other films, including Doctor Strange around 2017,[208] and Ant-Man and the Wasp in 2018 before Infinity War. Far From Home begins eight months after Endgame in 2024.[203]
When Homecoming was being developed, Watts was shown a scroll detailing the MCU timeline. This was created by co-producer Eric Carroll when he first began working for Marvel Studios. Watts said the scroll included both where the continuity of the films lined-up and did not lineup, and when fully unfurled it extended beyond the length of a long conference room table. This scroll was used as the basis to weave the continuity of Homecoming into the previous films, such as The Avengers.[210] The relationship between those two films was labeled in Homecoming with a title card stating that eight years pass between the end of The Avengers and the events of Civil War. This title card was widely criticized as a continuity error that broke the established MCU timeline, in which only four years should have passed.[105][211] Additionally, dialogue in Civil War indicates that eight years pass between the end of Iron Man and the events of that film, despite the established continuity being closer to five or six years.[212][213] Infinity War co-director Joe Russo described the Homecoming eight years time jump as "very incorrect",[214] and the mistake was ignored in Infinity War which specified that its events were taking place only six years after The Avengers.[213] The public response to the Homecoming mistake inspired Marvel Studios to release a new timeline for all three phases.[211]
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Recurring cast and characters
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This section includes characters who have appeared in multiple Phase Three films, and have appeared in the billing block for at least one film.
- A dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film.
- A C indicates an uncredited cameo role.
- A V indicates a voice-only role.
Characters are listed alphabetically by last name, as applicable.
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Music
Film soundtracks
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Singles
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Home media
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Reception
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Box office performance
Phase Three is the highest-grossing phase, more than doubling Phase Two's $5.3 billion gross, with six of its eleven films making over $1 billion at the worldwide box office, including Infinity War and Endgame, which each made more than $2 billion. As a result, Infinity War became the fourth-highest-grossing film ever and Endgame the highest-grossing film ever, unadjusted for inflation. Endgame surpassed Infinity War within eleven days of release and dethroned Avatar (2009) on July 21, 2019,[a] after Avatar held the title for nearly a decade,[324] 2019 was the first year that three MCU films made at least $1 billion each, thanks to Captain Marvel, Endgame, and Spider-Man: Far From Home.[325] By doing so, Far From Home became the first Spider-Man film to make $1 billion at the box office.[326]
Critical and public response
Josh Kurp of Uproxx felt that Phase Three was the strongest of all Marvel Cinematic Universe phases.[360] Conner Schwerdtfeger of CinemaBlend also felt that Phase Three was Marvel's best, citing increase in diverse unique filmmaking style as his main motivator.[361] Meanwhile, Eddie Possehl of Collider felt that Phase Three only had one film he did not consider "good" and felt the films were rewatchable. He ranked Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as the best film, enjoying the emotional story, humor, and soundtrack of the film.[362] Also for Collider, Douglas Laman felt Phase Three also provided more representation for women and people of color, and felt impressed by the series "juggled" many different storylines, characters, and aesthetics, specifically citing the Avengers films and Spider-Man: Far From Home.[363] Meanwhile, after analyzing contemporary data from Rotten Tomatoes, Nicolas Ayala of Screen Rant concluded that Phase Three was the most critically acclaimed and popular phase of the MCU. He cited the films' consistency and the overall story arc of the series that had "solid reasons" for including every character. He also felt Phase Three effectively balanced standalone films with sequels that improved the characters and their role within the overall MCU.[364]
Accolades
The films of the phase have been nominated for eleven Academy Awards (winning three),[365] three Golden Globe Awards,[366] six BAFTA Awards (winning one),[367] ten Grammy Awards (winning two),[368] sixty-five Saturn Awards (winning nineteen),[369] five Hugo Awards,[370] nineteen MTV Movie & TV Awards (winning eight),[371] and twenty-two Visual Effects Society Awards (winning six),[372] among others.
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Tie-in media
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Digital series
WHIH Newsfront
WHIH Newsfront is an in-universe current affairs show that serves as a viral marketing campaign for some of the MCU films, created in partnership with Google for YouTube.[373][374] The campaign is an extension of the fictional news network WHIH World News, which is seen reporting on major events in the MCU.[375] The videos released during April and May 2016 as a WHIH Newsfront Special Report focus on the Avengers and the political issues surrounding them as part of a viral marketing campaign for Captain America: Civil War. William Sadler reprises his role as President of the United States Matthew Ellis from Iron Man 3 (2013).[376]
The Daily Bugle
The Daily Bugle is an in-universe current affairs show serving as viral marketing campaign for Spider-Man: Far From Home, with six videos released on YouTube during October and November 2019. It is based on the fictional sensationalist news outlet of the same name that appears in the MCU—itself based on the fictional newspaper agency of the same name appearing in several Marvel Comics publications. J. K. Simmons reprises his role as J. Jonah Jameson from the mid-credits scene of Far From Home.[377]
Short films
Team Thor is a series of direct-to-video mockumentary short films that were released from 2016 to 2018, consisting of Team Thor, Team Thor: Part 2, and Team Darryl, all written and directed by Taika Waititi. The three short films are included as special features in the MCU films' Blu-ray and digital distribution releases. The first two films follow Thor as he moves in with a new roommate, Darryl Jacobson, during the events of Captain America: Civil War,[379][380] while Team Darryl sees Darryl move to Los Angeles and move in with the Grandmaster.[381] The shorts were designed to introduce MCU fans to the irreverent tone of Waititi's Thor: Ragnarok.[382] The three shorts were made available on Disney+ in January 2022,[383] at which point Marvel classified them as Marvel One-Shots.[384][385]
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Marvel Television's Netflix series
By October 2013, Marvel Television was preparing four drama series and a miniseries to present to video on demand services and cable providers, with Netflix, Amazon, and WGN America expressing interest.[415] Disney announced the next month that it would provide Netflix with live-action series based on Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage, leading to a crossover miniseries based on the Defenders.[416] In April 2016, Marvel and Netflix ordered The Punisher as a spin-off from Daredevil.[414] Netflix had canceled all of the series by the end of February 2019.[417] All series were no longer available on Netflix starting March 1, 2022, due to Netflix's license for the series ending and Disney regaining the rights.[418] They all began streaming on Disney+ from March 16, 2022.[419]
With the release of Marvel Studios' Disney+ miniseries Echo in January 2024, all of the Netflix series were retroactively added to the MCU Disney+ timeline, and were placed primarily alongside the Phase Two and Phase Three content of the MCU on the timeline.[420][421][422] Marvel Studios' head of streaming Brad Winderbaum acknowledged that Marvel Studios had previously been "a little bit cagey" about what was part of their Sacred Timeline, noting how there had been the corporate divide between what Marvel Studios created and what Marvel Television created.[423] Marvel Studios began looking at the Netflix series as a more integral part to the MCU once the Daredevil reboot series Daredevil: Born Again (2025) underwent a creative overhaul in September 2023.[424][425]
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