Claim: Thor: The Dark World takes place in the shared universe of Marvel.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe -LRB- MCU -RRB- films are an American series of superhero films , based on characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics . The films have been in production since 2007 , and in that time Marvel Studios has produced 15 films , with 11 more in various stages of production . The series has collectively grossed over $ 11.7 billion at the global box office , making it the highest-grossing film franchise of all-time .   Kevin Feige has produced every film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe . Avi Arad served as a producer on the two 2008 releases , and Gale Anne Hurd also produced The Incredible Hulk . Amy Pascal is set to produce Spider-Man : Homecoming . The films are written and directed by a variety of individuals and feature large , often ensemble , casts . Many of the actors , including Robert Downey Jr. , Chris Evans , Chris Hemsworth , Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson signed contracts to star in numerous films .   The first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was Iron Man -LRB- 2008 -RRB- , which was distributed by Paramount Pictures . Paramount also distributed Iron Man 2 -LRB- 2010 -RRB- , Thor -LRB- 2011 -RRB- and Captain America : The First Avenger -LRB- 2011 -RRB- , while Universal Pictures distributed The Incredible Hulk -LRB- 2008 -RRB- . Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures began distributing the films with the 2012 crossover film The Avengers , which concluded Phase One of the franchise . Phase Two includes Iron Man 3 -LRB- 2013 -RRB- , Thor : The Dark World -LRB- 2013 -RRB- , Captain America : The Winter Soldier -LRB- 2014 -RRB- , Guardians of the Galaxy -LRB- 2014 -RRB- , Avengers : Age of Ultron -LRB- 2015 -RRB- , and Ant-Man -LRB- 2015 -RRB- .   Captain America : Civil War -LRB- 2016 -RRB- is the first film in the franchise 's Phase Three , and is followed by Doctor Strange -LRB- 2016 -RRB- and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol . 2 -LRB- 2017 -RRB- , with Spider-Man : Homecoming -LRB- 2017 -RRB- , Thor : Ragnarok -LRB- 2017 -RRB- , Black Panther -LRB- 2018 -RRB- , Avengers : Infinity War -LRB- 2018 -RRB- , Ant-Man and the Wasp -LRB- 2018 -RRB- , Captain Marvel -LRB- 2019 -RRB- and an untitled Avengers film -LRB- 2019 -RRB- scheduled for the phase . Sony Pictures will distribute the Spider-Man films , which they will continue to own , finance , and have final creative control over .   Spider-Man : Homecoming 2 has been scheduled for 2019 , alongside three untitled films scheduled for 2020 , and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol . 3 has been announced . Feige has indicated that Marvel may abandon the phase grouping after the conclusion of Phase Three .