Phase 2
Iron Man 3
Released: April 25th, 2013
Runtime: 2hrs 10mins
Directed by: Shane Black
Written by: Shane Black, Drew Pearce
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Jon Favreau, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Ben Kingsley
Significant characters introduced: The Mandarin, Dr Aldrich Killian
Notable universe developments: Tony Stark struggles with PTSD, Rhodey is revealed as Iron Patriot; Pepper Potts harnesses the power of Extremis; the shrapnel is removed from Stark’s chest.
Tony Stark is suffering the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of his near-death experience in New York. His difficulties play against the backdrop of a wave of bizarre bombings perpetrated by the Ten Rings terrorist group, seemingly led by a mysterious figure known as The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley). Distressed when his security chief and longtime friend, Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) is injured in one such bombing, Stark calls The Mandarin out in a televised challenge.
An old acquaintance, Dr. Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall), arrives at Stark’s home to warn him about another old acquaintance – Dr. Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce). But, during their conversation, the Stark home is attacked by helicopter gunships. Hansen and Pepper Potts survive, and Stark has his artificial intelligence system J.A.R.V.I.S. pilot him in a suit to rural Tennessee – away from his loved ones.
While in Tennessee, Stark discovers that The Mandarin is actually an oblivious British actor, and that Killian is the real Mandarin. Killian stole Hansen’s technology – called Extremis – and tried to cure his physical disability. Killian then kidnaps Pepper Potts and subjects her to the Extremis process – endangering her life – and kills Hansen. He also lures out Lt. Colonel Rhodes, as the Iron Patriot, to try and steal his suit.
It transpires that Killian is working with the U.S. Vice President, and plans to attack Air Force One. Stark saves Potts, and works with Iron Patriot to defeat Killian – although, ultimately, it is Pepper Potts’ new Extremis powers that bring the conflict to a conclusion. Stark renews his romantic commitment to Potts, stabilizes her Extremis powers, and finally has the shrapnel removed from his chest.
Thor: The Dark World
Released: October 30th, 2013
Runtime: 1hr 52mins
Directed by: Alan Taylor
Written by: Christopher Yost, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Don Payne, Robert Rodat
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Eccleston, Rene Russo, Jaime Alexander, Idris Elba, Stellan Skarsgard
Significant characters introduced: Malekith, The Collector.
Notable universe developments: Dr. Jane Foster is infected with The Aether; Malekith kills Frigga; Thor and Loki work together; Loki secretly seizes the Asgardian throne; The Aether is entrusted to The Collector.
Thor is protecting Asgard with his fellow warriors, and Loki is imprisoned in the Asgardian jail. A planetary event known as The Convergence approaches, which would see the Nine Realms align and portals between them randomly appear. One such portal appears in London, where Dr. Jane Foster and her team are continuing their study into the atmospheric condition that led to Thor first appearing in New Mexico in the first film.
While investigating the portal in an old abandoned warehouse, Foster is transported to a different dimension, where she is infected with The Aether – an ancient power that can turn matter into dark matter. This is a weapon used by the Dark Elf Malekith (Christopher Eccleston), who previously battled Thor’s Grandfather, Bor. Malekith has been in suspended animation, waiting to feel a disturbance in The Aether. When he feels that it has been absorbed by Foster, he sets about tracking her down.
Foster is in the different dimension for five hours before reappearing in London. Concerned by the fact that all-seeing Guardian Sentry Heimdall (Idris Elba) cannot see her, Thor travels to Earth to find her. On arrival, he sees that she is experiencing some kind of physical problem, and removes her to Asgard. This brings Malekith to Thor’s home, and a battle ensues, resulting in the death of Frigga, mother of Thor (Rene Russo).
Thor enlists the help of Loki – promising him vengeance on Frigga’s killer – and travels to Svartalfheim with Loki and Jane. There, Loki seemingly sacrifices himself for Jane, by tricking Malekith into removing The Aether from her. Mourning his brother, Thor and Jane travel to Greenwich – the centre of The Convergence – where they battle Malekith to death.
Thor relinquishes his ascendency to the Asgardian throne and, once Thor has left, Odin is revealed to be Loki in disguise – now having secretly seized the throne. Two Asgardian warriors take The Aether to The Collector (Benicio Del Toro), and entrust it to his care – revealing that it is, in fact, one of the six Infinity Stones (the Reality Stone). It is implied that The Collector has his own agenda.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Released: March 26th, 2014
Runtime: 2hrs 16mins
Directed by: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
Written by: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Starring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Redford, Samuel L. Jackson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Frank Grillo, Cobie Smulders, Hayley Atwell, Emily VanCamp, Toby Jones
Significant characters introduced: Agent Brock Rumlow, Sam Wilson, Alexander Pierce, Sharon Carter, Pietro Maximoff, Wanda Maximoff.
Notable universe developments: S.H.I.E.L.D. is infiltrated by Hydra; Sam Wilson becomes Falcon; Bucky Barnes is revealed to be alive and brainwashed – and operating as the Winter Soldier; Hydra is holding Pietro and Wanda Maximoff (Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch).
Two years after the New York incident, we find Captain America and Black Widow working as a team for S.H.I.E.L.D. and Director Nick Fury. He sends them on a mission to free hostages being held by terrorists on a S.H.I.E.L.D. ship, and they accompany a counter-terrorist team led by Agent Rumlow (Frank Grillo) in doing so. During the mission, Captain America discovers that Black Widow has a different set of orders, which leads Captain America to confront Fury on their return.
Fury explains a S.H.I.E.L.D. project designed to use helicarriers and satellites to pre-emptively eliminate perceived threats – a plan that makes Captain America deeply uneasy. Fury becomes suspicious, however, when he is unable to decrypt data retrieved by Widow, and when he does not get a satisfactory explanation from his superior, Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford). Fury is then attacked and injured in the street, fleeing to Captain America’s apartment for help.
Fury apparently dies in surgery, and Captain America and Black Widow find that S.H.I.E.L.D. has been infiltrated at all levels by Hydra – including Agent Rumlow and his team. Captain America recruits US Air Force pararescueman Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) to their cause, because he has access to a weaponized flying suit. The trio come under attack from a strange, super-powered individual who Widow identifies as The Winter Soldier, and who Captain America realizes is his best friend, Bucky Barnes. Barnes has been brainwashed by Hydra and turned into a super-soldier.
Extracted by agent Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), they find that Fury faked his own death, and is available to collaborate with the team to bring S.H.I.E.L.D. down. The final confrontation leaves Rumlow hospitalized. Barnes experiences moments of clarity through his brainwashing and saves Captain America before disappearing into the woods, and Black Widow testifies to a senate committee – effectively outing herself as an agent. Fury – still thought by the rest of the world to be dead – heads off to find the remaining Hydra cells, and Hydra itself is revealed to be experimenting on two super-powered people (Pietro and Wanda Maximoff) using the Chitauri Sceptre, containing the Infinity Mind Stone.
