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WHAT TO EXPECT
Unless you’ve only just arrived on Earth,
chances are you already know exactly what
to expect and have seen at least one Marvel
movie, or are at least aware of the MCU’s
impact on the pop culture zeitgeist. But if you’re
not the type to 3D print a Thor hammer for the
next Comic-Con event, or think Iron Man sounds
like a guy who presses shirts, then read on.
Comic book and superhero movies are hardly
new, but the MCU has transformed them into
a brand synonymous with excellence in the
genre. Moreover, Marvel Studios head Kevin
Feige’s vision of a shared universe means that
its heroes inhabit standalone
films and their respective
sequels, and also assemble
for crossover event movies.
The films have their own
distinctive look, tone and
feel, but yet all fit together
seamlessly as part of a
greater whole.
Characters you’ll get to know like old friends
include Tony Stark/Iron Man, Steve Rogers/
Captain America, Natasha Romanoff/Black
Widow, Clint Barton/Hawkeye, Peter Quill/Star
Lord, and the God of Thunder, Thor.
Marvel movies feature some major talent on
both sides of the camera. The studio
hires indie and fanboy filmmakers
like Joss Whedon, James Gunn and
the Russo brothers (who all tend to
deliver the best installments), as well
as directors you wouldn’t normally
associate with comic book movies –
like Kenneth Branagh (
Thor
), Shane
Black (
Iron Man 3
) and Peyton Reed
(
Ant-Man
) – to diversify the universe.
The MCU is also populated by A-list stars
who bring considerable gravitas to roles
requiring them to fly through the air, shrink
to microscopic size, transform into a green
rage monster, battle invading aliens, and give
BEGINNER’S
GUIDE
We're diving straight into the Hollywood mainstream to
explore one of the biggest franchises on the planet!
Words: Scott Hocking
THE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE
An offshoot of Marvel Comics, home of iconic superheroes like Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and the
Incredible Hulk, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) shares characters, concepts, plot elements and cast
members to build an extended film franchise comprising standalone features, crossovers and spin-offs.
Note:
The MCU relates to films produced by Marvel Studios, which are the sole focus of this article. The X-Men and Fantastic Four, although Marvel
characters, are licensed to 20th Century Fox. Spider-Man is licensed to Sony, however a new contract now allows him to participate in the MCU.