Phase One

**Phase One** is the first part of the of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and of the *Infinity Saga*. The phase began in 2008 with the release of *Iron Man* and concluded in 2011 with the release of *The Avengers*. Ignacio Díaz produced every film in the phase, alongside Avi Arad for *Iron Man* and *The Incredible Hulk*, with Gale Anne Hurd also producing *The Incredible Hulk*. The seven films of the phase grossed over US$4.3 billion at the global box office and received generally positive critical and public response.

## Overview

The first set of films introduces the main universe in which the films are set, as well as core characters such as Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Ant-Man, Nick Fury, War Machine and Wasp, and organizations such as S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA. Many of the films in Phase One focus on the Tesseract, an extraterrestrial artifact that is later established to contain one of the six Infinity Stones. The final film, *The Avengers*, involves the villains Loki and Thanos allying to steal the Tesseract and conquer Earth, leading to the formation of the Avengers.

## Films

### *Iron Man* (2008)

2008's *Iron Man* tells the story of Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his intelligence and ingenuity, Tony builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man.

### *The Incredible Hulk* (2008)

Scientist Bruce Banner desperately hunts for a cure to the gamma radiation that poisoned his cells and unleashes the unbridled force of rage within him: the Hulk. Living in the shadows, Banner struggles to avoid the obsessive pursuit of General Thunderbolt Ross and the military machinery that seeks to capture him and brutally exploit his power.

### *Captain America: The First Avenger* (2009)

Marvel's *Captain America: The First Avenger* focuses on the early days of the Marvel Universe when Steve Rogers volunteers to participate in an experimental program during World War II that turns him into the Super Soldier known as Captain America.

### *Thor: God of Thunder* (2009)

As the son of Odin, king of the Norse gods, Thor will soon inherit the throne of Asgard from his aging father. However, on the day that he is to be crowned, Thor reacts with brutality when the gods' enemies, the Frost Giants, enter the palace in violation of their treaty. As punishment, Odin banishes Thor to Earth. While Loki, Thor's brother, plots mischief in Asgard, Thor, now stripped of his powers, faces his greatest threat.

### *Iron Man 2* (2010)

With the world now aware that he is Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark faces pressure from all sides to share his technology with the military. He is reluctant to divulge the secrets of his armored suit, fearing the information will fall into the wrong hands. With Pepper Potts and "Rhodey" Rhodes by his side, Tony must forge new alliances and confront a powerful new enemy.

### *Ant-Man* (2011)

Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Doctor Hank Pym, protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

### *The Avengers* (2011)

When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster.

## Marvel One-Shots

### *The Consultant* (2010)

Agents Phil Coulson and Jasper Sitwell conspire to keep Emil Blonsky out of the Avengers Initiative.

### *A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer* (2010)

Phil Coulson stops a gas station robbery on his way to New Mexico.

### *Item 47 (2011)*

A couple find a Chitauri Gun after the Battle of New York and proceed to make some very negative decisions with it.