Phase 1
Iron Man
Released: May 2nd, 2008
Runtime: 2hrs 6mins
Directed by: Jon Favreau
Writers: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard, Clark Gregg, Jon Favreau, Paul Bettany
Significant characters introduced: Tony Stark/Iron Man, Pepper Potts, Happy Hogan, Colonel James Rhodes, Agent Phil Coulson, J.A.R.V.I.S
Notable universe developments: Iron Man is created, S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Fury approaches Tony Stark about his Avengers Initiative.
Iron Man is based on the Marvel character of the same name, created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck and Jack Kirby in 1963.
Billionaire genius engineer Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is injured and abducted by the terrorist group Ten Rings while in Afghanistan demonstrating a Stark Industries weapon of war. Fellow abductee Yinsen (Shaun Toub) saves Stark’s life by grafting an electromagnet into his chest to manage the movement of potentially lethal shrapnel around his heart. Recovering, Stark enlists the help of Yinsen in building an armoured, powered suit in order to escape.
Back in the U.S with his new technology, Stark undergoes a drastic change in philosophy, having seen the effects of Stark weaponry firsthand. This agitates his Stark Industries business partner, Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges). Stane tries to oust Stark from his own company, and strikes deals with Ten Rings to weaponize Stark’s Iron Man technology. Stark – together with his assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), and his friend Lt. Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Terrence Howard) – works to keep the technology out of Stane’s hands.
The Incredible Hulk
Released: June 13th, 2008
Runtime: 1hr 52mins
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Writer: Zak Penn
Starring: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, William Hurt, Tim Roth, Tim Blake Nelson, Ty Burrell
Significant characters introduced: Dr. Bruce Banner/Hulk, General Thunderbolt Ross
Notable universe developments: The Hulk is seen in the MCU for the first time, Tony Stark meets General Ross regarding the Avengers Initiative.
The Incredible Hulk is based upon the character of the same name that was created in 1962 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
General Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt) seeks to reactivate an abandoned World War II super soldier program which would render humans immune to gamma radiation. His daughter, Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) is working with (and dating) Dr. Bruce Banner (Edward Norton), and she facilitates a meeting, with a view to Banner helping Ross with the program. He uses himself as a subject, but the experiment goes horribly wrong – and Banner finds that he suddenly turns into a giant green rage monster whenever his heart rate rises beyond a certain point. Wreaking havoc and destruction, Banner goes on the run with General Ross in hot pursuit, wanting to weaponize the Hulk.
Five years later, General Ross has enlisted the help of Royal Marine Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), and locates Banner via his communications with an anonymous scientist, known only as Mr. Blue (Tim Blake Nelson). Banner and Mr. Blue are trying to develop a cure for his Hulkness, but the blood samples and serums they produce are used by Blonsky, who develops super agility and speed as a result.
Banner finally meets with Mr. Blue in person, and discovers that he has secretly been using his blood samples for wider medicinal research – something that Banner finds disturbing. Blonsky is subjected to Banner’s blood, becomes The Abomination, and sets about destroying Harlem. Ross concedes that only Hulk can stop him, and so releases him into the city.
Iron Man 2
Released: April 30th, 2010
Runtime: 2hrs 4mins
Directed by: Jon Favreau
Writer: Justin Theroux
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke, Don Cheadle, Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, Clark Gregg, Samuel L. Jackson
Significant characters introduced: Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow
Notable universe developments: Tony Stark learns more about his father’s involvement with S.H.I.E.L.D., Rhodey gets to grips with using an Iron Man suit, a drawing of the Tesseract is seen in a notebook belonging to Howard Stark, S.H.I.E.L.D. becomes aware of the arrival of Mjolnir.
Tony Stark announcing that he is Iron Man draws the attention of Russian scientist Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), who begins copying the arc-reactor technology that powers the Iron Man suit and keeps shrapnel from killing Stark. Stark has discovered that the arc-reactor is gradually poisoning him, however, and is having difficulty developing an alternative. Feeling that his days are numbered, he becomes increasingly reckless. Vanko develops a powered suit of his own, and launches an attack on Stark – motivated by revenge for a personal, father-based conflict – which in turn, draws the attention of Stark’s industrial rival, Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell).
Stark promotes Pepper Potts to CEO of Stark Industries, and selects ‘Natalie Rushman’ (Scarlett Johansson) to be his new personal assistant. Rushman is soon revealed to be Natasha Romanoff, however – also known as Black Widow – who is a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent assigned to keep an eye on Stark.
Hammer enlists Vanko to develop an army of suits to put Stark out of business. Vanko, however, uses the opportunity to hardwire the suits to allow him to control them remotely and destroy Iron Man in combat. Though Iron Man, with the help of Rhodey (Don Cheadle), are successful in defeating Vanko, Stark is informed by Fury that S.H.I.E.L.D. will only require him as a consultant, because he is difficult in a team situation.
This film also sees the re-casting of Lt. Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes. Played by Terrence Howard in Iron Man, he is here played by Don Cheadle.
