Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
Outline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
The following outline serves as an overview of and topical guide to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), an American media franchise and shared universe created by Marvel Studios and owned by the Walt Disney Company. The franchise began in 2008 with the release of the film Iron Man and has since expanded to include various superhero films and television series produced by Marvel Studios, television series from Marvel Television, short films, digital series, literature, and other media. These are based on characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige produces every film and series from that studio for the MCU. The shared universe, much like the original Marvel Universe in comic books, was established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters.
The franchise has been commercially successful and has grossed over $31 billion at the global box office, becoming one of the highest-grossing media franchises and the highest-grossing film franchise of all time.[1] This includes Avengers: Endgame (2019), which concluded its theatrical run as the highest-grossing film of all time.[2] The franchise has received numerous accolades for its films and television series, and has inspired other film and television studios to attempt similar shared universes. It has also spawned the creation of several themed attractions, documentary series, literary material, and multiple tie-in video games.
Remove ads
Organizations
- Marvel Studios – Creator of the MCU and the production company for its films, television series, and other media; currently part of Walt Disney Studios; the studio's television series have been released under the "Marvel Television" label since late 2024
- Marvel Studios Animation – Division of Marvel Studios focused on producing animated television series, which have been released under the division's "Marvel Animation" label since 2024
- Marvel Television – Production company for some television series from 2013 to 2020 that was folded into Marvel Studios in 2019
Remove ads
Influential people

- Avi Arad – Founder of Marvel Studios
- David Maisel – Founding Chairman of Marvel Studios
- Kevin Feige – President of Marvel Studios and chief creative officer of Marvel Entertainment
- Louis D'Esposito – Co-president of Marvel Studios
- Victoria Alonso – Former president of production at Marvel Studios
- Jeph Loeb – Former executive vice president of Marvel Television
- Stan Lee – Creator or co-creator of many Marvel characters adapted in the MCU, who frequently made cameo appearances
Remove ads
Content
Summarize
Perspective
Feature films
Marvel Studios releases its films in groups called "Phases".[4][5]
The Infinity Saga
The films from Phase One, Phase Two, and Phase Three are collectively known as "The Infinity Saga".[6][7]
Phase One
Phase Two
Phase Three
The Multiverse Saga
The films from Phase Four, Phase Five, and Phase Six are collectively known as "The Multiverse Saga".[49] The Phases also include multiple television series and two specials streaming on Disney+.[5]
Phase Four films
Phase Five films
Phase Six films
Future films
Television series
Marvel Television
ABC series
Netflix series
Young adult series
Adventure into Fear
Marvel Studios
All Marvel Studios series will be or are being released on Disney+ unless otherwise noted.
Phase Four series
Phase Five series
Phase Six series
Future series
Television specials
Television specials produced by Marvel Studios and released on Disney+ are marketed as "Marvel Studios Special Presentations".[169][170]
Phase Four specials
Phase Six specials
Short films
Marvel One-Shots
Team Thor
I Am Groot
Digital series
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. web series
Faux current affairs digital series
Tie-in comic books
Music
Various composers have created the film and television scores of the MCU films, television series, One-Shots, Special Presentations, and other related projects of the MCU, primarily released by Marvel Studios's record label Marvel Music. Original songs have also been created specifically for use in the franchise, while Brian Tyler and Michael Giacchino have both scored fanfares for the Marvel Studios production logo.[226][227]
The original songs of the MCU are:
- "Live to Rise" (2012)
- "All the Stars" (2018)
- "King's Dead" (2018)
- "Pray for Me" (2018)
- "Agatha All Along" (2021)
- "Run It" (2021)
- "Lift Me Up" (2022)
- "Slash" (2024)
- "The Ballad of the Witches' Road" (2024)
Remove ads
Recurring cast and characters
Summarize
Perspective
List indicators
This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in at least three MCU films/series and received main billing credit in at least two franchises.
- A dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the media, or that the character's presence has not yet been confirmed.
- A P indicates an appearance in onscreen photographs.
- A V indicates a voice-only role.
Remove ads
Fictional universe
Summarize
Perspective
Timeline
The following diagram represents the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline for media released by Marvel Studios as well as the Netflix series by Marvel Television. Its placement is meant to represent when the majority of the project occurs. Loki and What If...? are excluded from the diagram because they occur outside of the main timeline with no set timeframe.[347][348][349] Werewolf by Night is also excluded given the special explicitly does not indicate where it takes place in the MCU.[350] Disney+'s timeline order places the first seasons of Loki and What If...? between Avengers: Endgame and WandaVision,[351][352][353] their second seasons after The Marvels,[353] and Werewolf by Night after Thor: Love and Thunder;[354] Werewolf by Night is also placed here in The Marvel Cinematic Universe: An Official Timeline.[355]
Key:
- Occurs on the MCU's Sacred Timeline
- Occurs outside the MCU's Sacred Timeline at a set timeframe
Features and in-universe elements
Remove ads
Inspired media
Docuseries
Marvel Studios: Legends
Marvel Studios: Assembled
Shorts and television episodes
- "Bart the Bad Guy" (2020)
- The Good, the Bart, and the Loki (2021)
- Deadpool and Korg React (2021)
Theme park attractions
Tie-in video games
Remove ads
Reception and accolades
- List of accolades received by Marvel Cinematic Universe films
- List of accolades received by The Avengers
- List of accolades received by Guardians of the Galaxy
- List of accolades received by Black Panther
- List of accolades received by Avengers: Infinity War
- List of accolades received by Avengers: Endgame
- List of accolades received by Spider-Man: No Way Home
- List of accolades received by Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- List of accolades received by Marvel Cinematic Universe television series
- List of box office records set by Avengers: Infinity War
- List of box office records set by Avengers: Endgame
Remove ads
Notes
- Black Widow was released concurrently on Disney+ with Premier Access.[50]
- Zhao is credited both as a solo writer and as part of a writing team with Burleigh.[56]
- A version of the first two episodes debuted in IMAX theaters on September 1, 2017, and ran for two weeks, before their television premiere on ABC on September 29.[97]
- Production of Helstrom was moved to Marvel Studios following the shut down of Marvel Television, with executives from Marvel Television staying on to supervise the completion of the series.[111]
- By October 2023, Marvel Studios shifted their creative philosophy to a more traditional television development process, moving away from head writers and beginning to hire dedicated showrunners for their series.[128] The showrunner title applies to Jac Schaeffer on Agatha All Along and Dario Scardapane on Daredevil: Born Again,[129][130] while Jeff Trammell served as both the head writer and showrunner of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.[131]
- During production of Secret Invasion, Bradstreet was replaced as writer by Brian Tucker,[128] who received the majority of the writing credits on the series.[132][133]
- Echo is part of the "Marvel Spotlight" banner[141]
- Zeb Wells served as the head writer for Marvel Zombies,[151] while Jeff Trammell served as both the head writer and showrunner of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.[131]
- Wonder Man is part of the "Marvel Spotlight" banner[155]
- Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man season 1 takes place outside the Sacred Timeline around the events of Civil War.[376]
Remove ads
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads