Phase 3
Captain America: Civil War
Released: April 29th, 2016
Runtime: 2hrs 27mins
Directed by: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
Written by: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely
Starring: Robert Downey J.r, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Chadwick Boseman, Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Paul Rudd, Emily VanCamp, Daniel Bruhl, Frank Grillo, William Hurt, Tom Holland, Martin Freeman, Marisa Tomei
Significant characters introduced: T’Challa/Black Panther, Helmut Zemo, Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Aunt May
Notable universe developments: The team is divided by the UN attempt to implement the Sokovia Accords – giving official oversight to the Avengers activities; Bucky Barnes kills Wakandan King T’Chaka with a bomb; Tony Stark recruits Spider-Man; Hydra’s secret stash of Winter Soldiers is revealed; Helmut Zemo reveals that Barnes killed Stark’s parents.
Approximately one year after the events of Avengers: Age Of Ultron, Captain America, Black Widow, Falcon and Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) are in Lagos to prevent Brock Rumlow and his team from stealing a biological weapon from a laboratory. Rumlow tries to eliminate Captain America by blowing him up, but Scarlet Witch saves him by deflecting the blast. In the process, she destroys a building and kills several Wakandans undertaking a humanitarian mission.
General Ross – now U.S Secretary Of State – informs the Avengers that the Sokovia Accords will soon be passed by the United Nations, and will lead to the appointment of a UN team charged with providing international oversight and approval to the actions of the Avengers. This divides the team, with Tony Stark agreeing to the Accords (in light of his own actions in Age Of Ultron), and Captain America being vehemently opposed (in light of his own experiences in The Winter Soldier).
Black Widow attends a UN conference in Vienna, during which she meets King T’Chaka of Wakanda (John Kani), and his son, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman). King T’Chaka is then killed in a bomb blast, and security footage implicates Bucky Barnes (The Winter Soldier). Desperate to reach his childhood friend before T’Challa (revealed to be Black Panther) kills him to avenge his father, Captain America seeks the assistance of Agent Sharon Carter (now revealed to be the niece of Agent Peggy Carter) – who informs him that the government also intends to kill Bucky.
It transpires that Barnes is under the influence of Helmut Zemo (Daniel Bruhl), who wants the location of a Hydra facility said to house a vast number of other brainwashed ‘Winter Soldiers.’ Tony Stark pieces together these clues as well, and tries to reach out to Captain America, who has ‘gone rogue.’ His attempts are re-buffed, however, as Captain America places his allegiance firmly with Bucky. In trying to solidify his side of the debate, Stark recruits a young man named Peter Parker (Tom Holland), who has secret superpowers. A showdown ensues, which leaves half of Captain America’s team incarcerated.
Stark, Captain America, Barnes and Black Panther all descend upon the secret Hydra facility, where they find that Zemo has killed the remaining Winter Soldiers. He is revealed to be a survivor of the Sokovia incident, seeking to avenge the deaths of his family by irreparably fracturing the Avengers team. He finally succeeds by showing Hydra archives to Stark, Captain America and Barnes, which reveal that Barnes killed Stark’s parents.
The film ends with Stark continuing his work, and Captain America liberating his allies, who had been briefly imprisoned for breaching international agreements. A grudging respect remains, but the team is no longer whole. Peter Parker is seen testing a new piece of equipment.
Doctor Strange
Release: October 25th, 2016 (UK)/November 4th 2016 (US)
Runtime: 1hr 55mins
Directed by: Scott Derrickson
Written by: Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill, Jon Spaihts
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Significant characters introduced: Doctor Stephen Strange, Baron Karl Mordo, The Ancient One, Wong, Kaecilius, Dormammu
Notable universe developments: Doctor Strange steps in to lead the fight against trans-dimensional threats in place of The Ancient One; Baron Mordo becomes wary of Strange’s methods and attitudes, and breaks away to start his own fight; Doctor Strange pledges to help Thor find Odin.
Doctor Strange is based on the Marvel character of the same name, created by Steve Ditko in 1963.
Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is the world’s greatest neuro-surgeon, but is left unable to use his skills when a terrible car accident damages his hands. Seeking alternative methods of healing, he encounters a mystic named The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), who reveals to him the existence of magic and alternate dimensions. The Ancient One becomes his mentor in the mystic arts.
Becoming involved with the Mystic Arts, Doctor Strange works alongside the sometimes antagonistic Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) – a former student of The Ancient One – and also Wong (Benedict Wong), a Master Of The Mystic Arts. They find themselves at odds with Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen), who is himself a Master Of The Mystic Arts, and who broke away from the oversight of The Ancient One to form his own sect. He questions the motives of the mentor, and believes he is right to offer an alternative view.
After waging a battle through the sanctums of London, New York, and Hong Kong, Doctor Strange, Wong, and Baron Mordo find themselves preventing the end of the universe by fighting the attacking Dormammu – ruler of the Dark Dimension. Doctor Strange defeats him by creating a time loop, and sends Kaecilius and his followers into the Dark Dimension. He then takes up residence in the Sanctum in New York, where he meets with Thor about finding his father, Odin.
Guardians Of The Galaxy: Vol. 2
Release: April 28th, 2017 (UK)/May 5th, 2017 (US)
Directed by: James Gunn
Written by: James Gunn
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Karen Gillan, Elizabeth Debicki, Sylvester Stallone, Kurt Russell, Michael Rooker, Pom Klementieff, Glenn Close
Significant characters introduced: Ego, Mantis, Ayesha, Taserface.
Notable universe developments: Peter Quill meets his father; Yondu joins the Guardians team; the Ravagers turn on the Guardians; Gamora and Nebula achieve a breakthrough in their relationship; Other Ravager squad leaders are revealed.
Set just two months after the events of Guardians Of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 finds the team travelling through the cosmos and bonding as an unconventional family, while Peter Quill/Star-Lord seeks to understand his true parentage. He is trying to fill the role of responsible leader, when the group is enlisted to help the Sovereign people. Rocket causes conflict by stealing from the Sovereign People, and the Guardians are assisted by a mysterious man who reveals himself to be Ego – Peter Quill’s biological father.
Ego takes Peter, Gamora, and Drax to his home – a living planet that is an extension of himself – and introduces them to Mantis. She is an empath that Ego has raised from childhood, but essentially keeps as a pet. As Ego reveals more and more about his intentions, it becomes clear that he is not the peaceful, merciful figure that Peter hoped he would be.
Gamora and Nebula struggle with the effects of their own parentage, and eventually come to terms, while Yondu finds himself in conflict with his Ravager colleagues, and reveals the truth about his relationship with Peter. As all finally unite to combat the all-powerful Ego, a wider range of Ravager squads are revealed.
