2008 launched one of the defining franchises of modern cinema: the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A film saga portraying the heroic exploits of timeless Marvel Comics characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, and The Hulk, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU for short) has been running strong for the past ten years and shows no sign of stopping any time soon.
At its core, the MCU is a modern-day retelling of classic Marvel tales, with cinematic re-inventions of beloved characters. 2008’s Iron Man was the one that started it all, and is still hailed as one of the best comic book movie origin stories. Moving forward, relatively obscure characters like Captain America and Thor were introduced to the public eye and established themselves within this new Marvel universe.
Then 2012 changed everything. The Avengers released in theaters and was met with overwhelming positive reception from fans and critics alike, and became one of the highest-grossing movies of all time. It was the first of its kind: an cinematic action thrill-ride with pre-established characters meeting for the first time to battle an intergalactic threat of epic proportions. Also, the climactic “Battle of New York” featured in the film had massive repercussions within the MCU’s narrative, impacting future films like Iron Man 3 and Captain America: Civil War to even non-film entries like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Daredevil.
Following 2012, the MCU focused on continuing the adventures of the Avengers while simultaneously introducing new characters and integrating them into the continuity. New characters like the Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, Black Panther, and the Defenders gave viewers a wider perspective of the universe, from the downtrodden streets of Hell’s Kitchen to a secret advanced civilization in Africa to even beyond the stars.
And all of this culminates in this year’s Avengers: Infinity War, with the titular heroes and their allies going up against their strongest opponent yet: Thanos, an alien warlord seeking the annihilation and re-building of the universe with the six Infinity Stones. The Infinity Stones have been behind many of the key events in the MCU, including the aforementioned Battle of New York featured in the first Avengers film. The six almighty Stones command the cosmic powers of Space, Mind, Reality, Power, Time, and Soul respectively, and if Thanos acquires all six, he will be invincible. With the stakes higher than ever before, the Avengers will have to set aside their differences and fight for the fate of the entire universe.
There are more films confirmed after Avengers: Infinity War, though this film does carry a sense of finality. After a decade of stories and world-building, all of these characters will be coming together in an event that will shake the MCU to its very core. And with a doomsday scenario as imposing as Thanos, one can expect a memorable ride with action and twists throughout. The stage is set for a titanic showdown that will change the Marvel Cinematic Universe…forever.