Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

In 1995, the Avengers Initiative is created by S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury, who envisions a group of heroes working together in response to planetary threats, following the appearance of superhumans such as Carol Danvers. He names his plan after her U.S. Air Force callsign, "Avenger".[1][2] Years later, Fury assesses various individuals for the initiative, including Tony Stark[3] and Steve Rogers.[4] Stark's membership is declined after a negative report on his suitability by Natasha Romanoff.[5] The World Security Council expresses a desire for Emil Blonsky to join the initiative, although they abandon their wish after Stark deters Thaddeus Ross from the idea, instead bringing in Bruce Banner.[6]

The founding Avengers assembling in what is considered one of the pivotal moments of the MCU.[7] (L to R: Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton / Hawkeye, Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man, and Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner / The Hulk).

In 2012, the Asgardian Loki teleports to the Joint Dark Energy Mission Facility on Earth, where he steals the Tesseract and brainwashes Clint Barton and Dr. Erik Selvig using his scepter. Following the attack, Fury recruits Stark and Banner to locate the Tesseract. Rogers, Romanoff, and Stark apprehend Loki, but are disrupted by the arrival of Thor. This leads to confrontations between the group, exacerbated by the revelation that S.H.I.E.L.D. is building weapons of mass destruction using the Tesseract, during which the brainwashed Barton attacks the Helicarrier, provoking Banner to transform into the Hulk and go on a rampage.[8]

After Loki kills S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson, the team unites to avenge him. Romanoff frees Barton from the scepter's control, and the Avengers depart to confront Loki, who subsequently opens a wormhole on Stark Tower using the Tesseract and begins his invasion, with the Avengers, led by Rogers, fighting his Chitauri army. During the battle, the World Security Council launches a nuclear strike toward Manhattan against Fury's wishes, but the missile is intercepted by Stark, who flies it through the wormhole and destroys the Chitauri mother ship, deactivating the army. Romanoff uses Loki's scepter to close the portal, and Loki is apprehended and taken back to Asgard. Stark Tower is renamed "Avengers Tower" after the battle.[8]

The cast of Avengers: Age of Ultron at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con

Three years after Loki's attack on New York City, his scepter, formerly in the possession of S.H.I.E.L.D., is used by Hydra following the collapse of S.H.I.E.L.D.[9] The Avengers track it down to the Eastern European nation of Sokovia, where they fight to recover it, and encounter the twin superhuman Hydra test subjects Wanda and Pietro Maximoff. Barton is wounded in the battle, Rogers captures Hydra's leader Wolfgang von Strucker, and Stark manages to retrieve the scepter despite being subjected to apocalyptic hallucinations by Wanda's telepathy. Stark and Banner decide to use the scepter to create the Ultron Program as an artificial intelligence peacekeeping force. Meanwhile, the Avengers celebrate their victory. However, the newly designed A.I. attacks the Avengers as Ultron, intent on destroying the Avengers, and later kills Strucker. The Avengers are divided over Stark's creation, who maintains it was intended to protect Earth from looming cosmic threats.[10]

In Africa, the Avengers confront Ultron, now allied with the Maximoff twins, and a fight ensues. Wanda induces telekinetic hallucinations upon the Avengers, and triggers Banner's transformation into the Hulk before she is stopped by Barton. The Hulk rampages through Johannesburg until being stopped by Stark in his Hulkbuster armor. After regrouping and encountering Fury at Barton's farmhouse, Rogers, Barton and Romanoff retrieve a new vibranium body created by Ultron. Stark and Banner upload J.A.R.V.I.S. into the body, although they face resistance from Rogers and the Maximoffs. Thor, having experienced a vision of the Infinity Stones, uses Mjolnir to supercharge the process, creating The Vision.[10]

After losing the Vision as its new body, Ultron tries to cause an extinction event by using Sokovia as a meteor. The Avengers, joined by James Rhodes and the Maximoffs, defeat Ultron's sentries and evacuate civilians. Pietro is killed saving Barton, and Sokovia is exploded by Stark and Thor to prevent human extinction. Vision eventually destroys the last remaining body of Ultron. In the aftermath of the battle, Stark and Barton decide to retire as active members of the team with the latter having promised his wife to come back home once the mission was over; Banner disappears, and Thor goes to space to track down the Infinity Stones; while Rhodes, Sam Wilson, Wanda, and the Vision join the team, under the leadership of Rogers and Romanoff. The Avengers also move to the new Avengers Compound in Upstate New York as their primary headquarters.[10]

The cast of Captain America: Civil War, joined by Kevin Feige, the directing Russo brothers and producer Nate Moore at the London premiere

Months after the Battle of Sokovia, the Avengers' new facility becomes the target of a heist, with a skirmish between Wilson and Scott Lang.[11] In 2016, Rogers, Romanoff, Maximoff, and Wilson defend a research lab in Lagos from Brock Rumlow. They successfully stop Rumlow and his crew of mercenaries, but when an attempted suicide attack by Rumlow is deflected by Maximoff through telekinesis, Wakandan diplomats are killed. As a result, Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross presents the Sokovia Accords to the Avengers, a United Nations (U.N.) legislation that would bring the Avengers and other superhumans under the direct authority of the U.N. Although Stark, Rhodes, Vision and Romanoff support the idea, Rogers and Wilson object due to fears of their autonomy being limited while Maximoff is uncertain.[12]

After Bucky Barnes is accused of killing King T'Chaka of Wakanda in an explosion, Rogers and Wilson seek to protect him from an arrest warrant, causing them to clash with Stark, Rhodes, Romanoff and T'Challa, son of T'Chaka. After Barnes is detained in Berlin, Helmut Zemo activates Barnes' Winter Soldier alter-ego using the Winter Soldier Book, although Barnes later comes to his senses and reveals Zemo's interest in the Winter Soldier Program. To assist them, Wilson recruits Lang and Rogers recruits Barton, who comes out of retirement, confronts the Vision and takes Maximoff out of de facto house arrest at the Avengers Compound. The two sides of the Avengers then confront at the Leipzig/Halle Airport, with Rogers, Barnes, Wilson, Barton, Lang and Maximoff facing Stark, Rhodes, Romanoff, the Vision, T'Challa and new recruit Peter Parker.[12]

Rogers and Barnes manage to escape with Romanoff's help, who betrays Stark to find Zemo, while their teammates are imprisoned in the Raft. Rhodes' legs are paralyzed when he falls after being accidentally struck by a blast from the Vision that was aimed at Wilson. Rogers and Barnes head to the Hydra Siberian Facility to stop Zemo from reactivating the Winter Soldier Program, and are joined by Stark, who realizes Barnes' innocence. However, Zemo shows Stark footage of Barnes' assassination of Stark's parents, turning Stark against Rogers and Barnes. In the ensuing fight, Rogers disables Stark's armor, whilst Barnes' cybernetic arm is destroyed and Rogers abandons his shield. Meanwhile, T'Challa apprehends Zemo after discovering he was his father's true killer.[12] Rogers later breaks out his teammates from the Raft with the help of Romanoff arriving on a Quinjet,[13] with Stark declining to stop him. Afterwards, Barton and Lang make a deal with the U.S. government to be placed under house arrest so that they may go back to their families.[14]

Although officially reduced to just Stark, Vision and Rhodes, the Avengers continue operating. Stark sells Avengers Tower, and Parker is offered a place on the Avengers roster by Stark who initially thinks Parker isn't ready after he defeats Adrian Toomes, although Parker declines, choosing to remain a neighborhood superhero and having come to slowly understand the dangers of his superhero life. Parker promises Stark that though not being a member of Avengers, he will help the team whenever they want him.[15]

In 2018, the Avengers come into conflict with Thanos and his children, who are seeking the six Infinity Stones to erase half of all life in the universe. Thanos forcefully boards the Statesman, kills Loki, and incapacitates Thor. Banner, as the Hulk, is also defeated by Thanos but is sent to Earth by Heimdall to inform Stephen Strange, the keeper of the Time Stone, as well as Wong, of Thanos' impending arrival. Strange, Wong and Banner, joined by Stark and Parker, confront Ebony Maw and Cull Obsidian in Greenwich Village. With the Hulk reluctant to emerge, Strange is captured by Maw, while Banner contacts Rogers to warn him of Thanos' intention to acquire Vision's Mind Stone.[14]

In space aboard Maw's ship, Stark and Parker pursue Strange and kill Maw, after which Stark anoints Parker as an official Avenger. On Stark's urging, they head for Thanos' home planet Titan, where they ally with the Guardians of the Galaxy after initial hostility. The Avengers and Guardians are able to restrain Thanos and attempt to take the Infinity Gauntlet, wielding four of the Stones, off him. However, an enraged Peter Quill attacks Thanos upon learning of the death of Gamora, allowing Thanos to escape. Thanos incapacitates the group, and Strange surrenders the Time Stone to save Stark's life, contradicting his previous promise not to.[14]

Meanwhile, Rogers, Romanoff and Wilson, fugitives since 2016, intercept an attack on Vision and Maximoff in Edinburgh. They return to the Avengers Compound, where they reunite with Rhodes and Banner. Learning of the threat, Vision proposes to be destroyed to prevent Thanos from acquiring the Mind Stone, but Maximoff and the Avengers refuse, and travel to Wakanda, where Shuri, sister of T'Challa, begins an operation to remove the Stone from Vision's head. Meanwhile, the Wakandan army, the Jabari Tribe, the Dora Milaje, and Barnes ally with the Avengers to defend Vision from Thanos' children and the Outriders. Banner, still unable to become the Hulk, dons a modified Hulkbuster armor, and Thor, Rocket and Groot also arrive in Wakanda and join the battle, with Thor wielding his newly forged axe, Stormbreaker.[14]

Corvus Glaive ambushes Shuri, stopping her from operating on the Vision. Vision kills Glaive, Banner kills Obsidian, and Maximoff kills Proxima Midnight during the battle. When Thanos arrives, Vision urges Maximoff to destroy the Mind Stone while Rogers rallies the Avengers in an unsuccessful attempt to stop Thanos. Maximoff tearfully destroys the Stone, killing Vision, but Thanos uses the Time Stone to reverse the action and retrieves the Stone from Vision's forehead, killing him once more. With the Gauntlet now assembled, Thanos, despite being attacked by Thor, initiates the Blip, causing Wilson, Barnes, Maximoff, Strange, Parker, T'Challa, Groot, Quill, Drax, and Mantis to disintegrate, leaving Stark and Nebula alone on Titan while the surviving Avengers in Wakanda rue their defeat after Thanos retreats.[14]

Nick Fury and Maria Hill are blipped as they try to find out the Avengers' location, but not before Fury manages to summon Danvers.[14] Barton's family also blips while he is on house arrest as he's left to mourn their loss. Upon learning of what happened he becomes the murderous vigilante Ronin to kill those he believes did not deserve to be spared by the Blip.[16] Lang gets trapped in the Quantum Realm while he was there harvesting energy from it, as Hank Pym, Hope, and Janet van Dyne, who were going to pull him out, get blipped.[17]

Three weeks later, the Avengers are reunited with Stark after he and Nebula are rescued from space by Danvers. Following an outburst from Stark towards Rogers over not supporting him on Titan, the rest of the Avengers detect an energy surge from Thanos' Garden planet, and Rogers, Romanoff, Banner, Thor, Danvers, Rhodes, Rocket, and Nebula head there to ambush him. Thanos reveals that he destroyed the Stones, prompting an enraged Thor to decapitate him.[16]

During the next five years, Romanoff becomes the leader of the Avengers, having officially recruited Danvers, Rocket, and Nebula to the team. Romanoff's Avengers work to quell disturbances on both Earth and other planets caused by the Blip, and they work closely with Okoye of Wakanda. Rogers becomes a grief counselor, while Stark retires to live with his wife Pepper Potts and daughter Morgan. Thor, overcome by depression, becomes an overweight alcoholic, and Banner merges his personalities, retaining his intelligence in the Hulk's body.[16]

Following the release of a trapped Scott Lang from the Quantum Realm, Lang visits Rogers and Romanoff and explains that he only experienced five hours in the Realm rather than five years, and thus suggests time travel as a method of reversing the Blip. The three of them visit Stark and Banner to discuss the plan, with Stark refusing and Banner running unsuccessful time travel tests on Lang using Pym's quantum tunnel. Stark, remembering the loss of Parker and the others, helps the team develop successful time travel using Pym Particles. Banner and Rocket travel to Norway, where they visit the Asgardian refugees' settlement, New Asgard and recruit Thor. In Tokyo, Romanoff recruits Barton, telling him of the possibility of getting his family back. With everyone gathered together, the team discuss the best years and locations to get each Stone in an operation dubbed by Lang as the "Time Heist".[16]

Banner, Rogers, Stark, and Lang travel to New York City in 2012. Banner is given the Time Stone by the Ancient One after revealing Strange's surrender of it, Lang retrieves the Mind Stone, housed in Loki's scepter, and Stark and Rogers retrieve the Space Stone from 1970 after failing to retrieve it from 2012. Thor and Rocket retrieve the Reality Stone and Mjolnir from Asgard in 2013. Rhodes and Nebula retrieve the Power Stone from Morag in 2014, but Nebula is captured by Thanos from 2014 and 2014 Nebula returns to 2023. Barton retrieves the Soul Stone after Romanoff sacrifices herself on Vormir to allow Barton to obtain it.[16]

The Avengers, led by Chris Evans as Captain America, assembling in the Battle at the Avengers Compound. The Battle at the Avengers Compound sequence was praised by /Film as an improvement from Avengers: Infinity War,[18] while scenes from the sequence were positively received by cinematic audiences.[19]

Reuniting in the present, the Avengers place the Stones into a gauntlet designed by Stark, Banner, and Rocket. Banner, having the most resistance to their gamma radiation, wields the gauntlet and reverses the Blip. Meanwhile, 2014-Nebula, impersonating her future self, uses the time machine to transport 2014-Thanos and his warship to the present, destroying the Avengers Compound in the process. Present-day Nebula convinces 2014-Gamora to betray Thanos, but is unable to convince 2014-Nebula and kills her. Thanos overpowers Stark, Thor, and Rogers, who wields Mjolnir. Thanos summons his army to retrieve the Stones, intent on using them to destroy the universe and create a new one. A restored Strange arrives with other sorcerers, the restored Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy, the Ravagers, and the armies of Wakanda and Asgard to fight Thanos' army. Danvers also arrives and destroys Thanos' warship, but Thanos overpowers her using the Power Stone and seizes the gauntlet. After a prompt from Strange, Stark obtains the Stones and uses them to disintegrate Thanos and his army, but the strain of using them kills him.[16]

Following Stark's funeral, the Avengers disband. Rogers returns the Stones and Mjolnir to their proper timelines and travels to another timeline to be with Peggy Carter. Rogers then returns as an elderly man and passes his shield and the mantle of Captain America to Wilson. Thor appoints Valkyrie as the new ruler of New Asgard and heads to space with the Guardians.[16]

Thor later splits up with them upon discovering the threat of Gorr, wherein he teams up with Korg, Valkyrie and his ex-girlfriend Jane Foster, whom he had not seen for eight years following their breakup and is undergoing cancer treatment to stop Gorr. Foster also receives powers like Thor due to wielding a reconstructed Mjolnir which bonded to her due to a protective enchantment unknowingly left by Thor. Thor loses Foster once she succumbs to her cancer and then regains Mjolnir while passing on Stormbreaker to Gorr's daughter, Love, who is revived by Eternity and is adopted by Thor as per Gorr's dying request.[20]

Maximoff, in her grief from what happened, creates a magical false reality in Westview, New Jersey, which eventually unravels the origin of her true self as the Scarlet Witch, while also coming into conflict with S.W.O.R.D.[21][22] She is supported by Monica Rambeau, Jimmy Woo, and Darcy Lewis. Her powers revive Vision, now with an altered appearance and without the Mind Stone as the power source, while also creating twin children, Billy and Tommy.[21][23] Corrupted by the Darkhold, Maximoff learns of the multiverse and tries to unite with alternate real versions of her children. However, in late 2024, she is stopped and helped by Strange, Wong, and America Chavez.[24]

Rhodes and Wilson return to the U.S. military,[25] and Wilson eventually accepts Rogers' legacy and becomes the new Captain America after stopping the threat of the Flag Smashers with Barnes' help.[26][27] Danvers and Banner remain in contact, and they answer Wong's call to discuss the origin of Shang-Chi's Ten Rings with the latter.[28][29] Banner, living off the grid in Mexico, trains his cousin, Jennifer Walters after she receives his gamma-radiated abilities upon cross-contamination with his blood following an accident, despite her reluctance to be a superhero.[30] Banner then travels to Sakaar and brings his son Skaar back to Earth.[31][32]

Parker returns to school and briefly becomes Stark's chosen successor until he is brought into conflict with a former employee of Stark's Quentin Beck, who reveals Parker's secret identity and frames him as his murderer, putting Parker's reputation in jeopardy and drastically affecting his personal life.[33] Although he manages to avoid legal troubles with lawyer Matt Murdock's help, the damage to his personal life due to controversy causes him to seek Strange's help to reverse it with a spell to make his identity secret again. The events that transpire cause the multiverse to open and to save his universe from collapsing, Parker chooses to have the world's knowledge of his civilian identity completely erased, including the bonds he shared with his former friends and allies. Now anonymous and having lost his Aunt May in the conflict, he resumes his vigilantism as Spider-Man.[34]

Barton retires and lives with his family at his Iowa farm. While on a Christmas vacation with his children in New York City, his previous actions as Ronin cause him to come into conflict with elements of organized crime including Wilson Fisk, Maya Lopez, and her Tracksuit Mafia, as well as Romanoff's adoptive sister, Yelena Belova, who holds him responsible for her sister's death.[35][36][37][38] He eventually makes peace with Yelena, takes in a protégé named Kate Bishop, whose life he had saved during the Battle of New York.[39]

In 2025, the first annual "AvengerCon" is held at Camp Lehigh to honor the Avengers. It is attended by Kamala Khan, an Avengers-fangirl, particularly a fan of Danvers, who gains powers after putting on a golden bangle heirloom while cosplaying as Danvers.[40] Lang becomes a famous celebrity, while spending time with Hope and his daughter, Cassie, and befriending Woo. He then starts a podcast, called Big Me Little Me, and writes a bestselling memoir called Look Out for the Little Guy, in which he gives the Avengers' account for the Battle at the Avengers Compound. Lang, Cassie, Hope, Pym, and Janet are sucked into the Quantum Realm. There, they confront Kang the Conqueror, who forces Lang to try and help him escape. After seemingly killing Kang, and dubbing the dying Darren Cross / M.O.D.O.K. an honorary Avenger, the group successfully returns home. However, the Council of Kangs overseeing the multiverse take note that the Avengers from the 616 universe have started learning of the multiverse and need to be stopped.[41]

Other versions of the Avengers are depicted in the alternate realities of the MCU multiverse.

In an alternate 2011, a vengeful Hank Pym eliminates the Avengers' candidates: Stark, Thor, Barton, Banner, and Romanoff. After Pym is defeated, Loki uses the opportunity to invade Earth. Meanwhile, Fury quietly prepares to reactivate the team after Rogers is discovered in the Arctic and Danvers responds to his call for help.[42] Rogers, Danvers, and Fury later battle Loki and his Asgardian army aboard a Helicarrier. During the fight, the Watcher brings in a variant of Romanoff from a universe that was wiped out by Ultron, and she incapacitates Loki with his own scepter before being greeted by Fury.[43]

In an alternate 2018, a quantum virus is released turning people into zombies. Some of the Avengers respond to an outbreak in San Francisco and are subsequently infected as well. Banner and Parker survive, and with other allies, find Vision who is keeping an infected Maximoff alive by feeding her pieces of T'Challa. Vision sacrifices himself to provide them with the Mind Stone so that they can use it to find a cure, and Banner stays behind to keep Maximoff at bay, allowing Parker, T'Challa, and Lang to escape to Wakanda where unbeknownst to them, an infected Thanos awaits with the other Infinity Stones.[44]

In an alternate 2015, Ultron successfully implants himself into Vision's body and exterminates the Avengers, except for Barton and Romanoff. Years later, when Ultron continues his campaign of destruction throughout the universe after obtaining the Infinity Stones, Barton and Romanoff fight Ultron's sentries. Realizing that their efforts are insignificant, they attempt to find a way to shutdown his A.I., and eventually prepare to upload an analog copy of Arnim Zola consciousness into Ultron's hivemind, but Barton sacrifices himself in vain and the upload fails when Ultron enters the Multiverse.[45]

A version of the Avengers existed on Earth-838 with Peggy Carter / Captain Carter, being the first Avenger instead of Rogers.[24] In an alternate 2018, the Avengers (and Thanos) are killed during the Battle of Wakanda when Glenn Talbot / Graviton, attempting to draw up enough gravitonium from the Earth's core to allow him to help the Avengers defeat Thanos, accidentally causes the planet to be destroyed.[46][47] In several alternate universes, the Avengers were killed by Kang, who successfully conquered their universes.[41]

Samuel L. Jackson, who portrays Nick Fury, at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con

Many characters have been affiliated with the Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe:

• S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury is the creator of the Avengers and assists them numerous times.[8][10]
• Phil Coulson contributes to the Avengers' creation as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent serving Fury.[48] Fury described him as much of an Avenger as the superheroes.[49]
• S.H.I.E.L.D. assists the Avengers in the Battle of New York.[8] Even after its collapse,[9] S.H.I.E.L.D. agents like Maria Hill fight alongside the Avengers in the Battle of Sokovia.[10]
• Erik Selvig and Helen Cho begin working for the Avengers during the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron.
• T'Challa / Black Panther and Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier / White Wolf fight alongside the Avengers during the Avengers Civil War,[12] the Battle of Wakanda,[14] and the Battle at the Avengers Compound.[16]
• Individuals like Ayo, Drax, Groot, Mantis, M'Baku, Okoye, Shuri, Peter Quill / Star-Lord, Dr. Stephen Strange, and Wong with the rest of the Wakandan army including Dora Milaje fight alongside the Avengers during the Infinity War[14] and the Battle at the Avengers Compound.[16]
• Individuals like Hope van Dyne, Howard the Duck, Korg, Kraglin Obfonteri, Miek, Pepper Potts, Valkyrie,[50] the Masters of the Mystic Arts, the Ravagers, and the rest of the Asgardian army fight alongside the Avengers in the Battle at the Avengers Compound, all earning their title as Avengers from Rogers.[16][51]
• Individuals like Cassie Lang, Hank Pym, Darren Cross / M.O.D.O.K., and the citizens of the Quantum Realm fight the exiled Kang the Conqueror and his army of Quantumnauts alongside the Avenger Scott Lang / Ant-Man during the Battle of the Quantum Realm, with Lang comfortingly responding "You're in." to M.O.D.O.K.'s dying declaration of "At least I died an Avenger."[41]

Kevin Feige helped conceive the concept of the Avengers in one shared universe.

In the mid-2000s, Kevin Feige realized that Marvel still owned the rights to the core members of the Avengers. Feige, a self-professed "fanboy", envisioned creating a shared universe just as creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby had done with their comic books in the early 1960s.[52]

Ideas for a film based on the Avengers began in 2003,[53] with Avi Arad, the CEO of Marvel Studios, first announcing plans to develop the film in April 2005, after Marvel Enterprises declared independence by allying with Merrill Lynch to produce a slate of films that would be distributed by Paramount Pictures.[54] Marvel discussed their plans in a brief presentation to Wall Street analysts; the studio's intention was to release individual films for the main characters to establish their identities and familiarize audiences with them before merging the characters together in a crossover film.[55][56] Screenwriter Zak Penn, who wrote The Incredible Hulk (2008) which introduced Bruce Banner / Hulk, became attached to the film in 2006 and was hired by Marvel Studios to write the film in June 2007.[57] In the wake of the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, Marvel negotiated with the Writers Guild of America to ensure that it could create films based on its comic book counterparts, including Captain America, Ant-Man and the Avengers.[58] After the successful release of Iron Man (2008) in May which introduced Tony Stark / Iron Man, the company set a July 2011 release date for The Avengers.[59] In September 2008, Marvel Studios reached an agreement with Paramount—an extension of a previous partnership—which gave the company distribution rights for five future Marvel films.[60]

In October 2008, two major prospects occurred for Marvel Studios: Jon Favreau was brought in as an executive producer for the film,[61] and the company signed a long-term lease with Raleigh Studios to produce three additional big-budget films alongside The Avengers at their Manhattan Beach, California complex. The films were Iron Man 2 (2010), introducing Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, Thor (2011) introducing Thor and a cameo appearance of Clint Barton / Hawkeye, and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), introducing Steve Rogers / Captain America.[62] Executive producer Jon Favreau stated that he would not direct the film, but would "definitely have input and a say". Favreau also expressed concerns, stating, "It's going to be hard, because I was so involved in creating the world of Iron Man, and Iron Man is very much a tech-based hero, and then with Avengers you're going to be introducing some supernatural aspects because of Thor [Mixing] the two of those works very well in the comic books, but it's going to take a lot of thoughtfulness to make that all work and not blow the reality that we've created".[63] In March 2009, Marvel announced that the film's release date had been pushed back to May 4, 2012, almost a full year later.[64]

In July 2009, Penn talked about the crossover process, stating, "My job is to kind of shuttle between the different movies and make sure that finally we're mimicking that comic book structure where all of these movies are connected. There's just a board that tracks 'Here's where everything that happens in this movie overlaps with that movie'. I'm pushing them to do as many animatics as possible to animate the movie, to draw boards so that we're all working off the same visual ideas. But the exigencies of production take first priority".[65] At first, Penn tried to reduce Thor's role in the script because he had doubts about the character's ability to succeed on film. He changed his mind once Chris Hemsworth was cast as Thor.[66] The film had always intended to use Loki as its villain, but Penn noted that early discussion had considered using Red Skull.[67]

In January 2010, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige was asked if it would be difficult to meld the fantasy of Thor with the high-tech science fiction in Iron Man and The Avengers. "No," he said, "because we're doing the Jack Kirby/Stan Lee/Walt Simonson/J. Michael Straczynski Thor. We're not doing the blow-the-dust-off-of-the-old-Norse-book-in-your-library Thor. And in the Thor of the Marvel Universe, there's a race called the Asgardians. And we're linked through this Tree of Life that we're unaware of. It's real science, but we don't know about it yet. The 'Thor' movie is about teaching people that".[68] In March, it was reported that Penn had completed the first draft of the script, and that Marvel editor-in-chief Joe Quesada and Avengers comic-book writer Brian Michael Bendis had received copies.[69] Numerous aspects and elements of both the Ultimates and the Earth-616 Avengers were utilized for the look and storyline of the 2012 live action film Marvel's The Avengers,[70] which was huge success and introduced the assembled team of Avengers.

Samuel L. Jackson makes his debut in a cameo appearance as Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D., in a post-credits scene in Iron Man.[71] Jackson's face was previously used as the model for the Ultimate Marvel imprint version of Nick Fury.[72] Jackson confirmed that he had been in discussions to reprise the role of Nick Fury from Iron Man's post-credits scene in the film's sequel, but that contract disputes were making a deal difficult. Jackson stated, "There was a huge kind of negotiation that broke down. I don't know. Maybe I won't be Nick Fury."[73] In February 2009, Jackson and Marvel came to terms, and he was signed to play the character in up to nine films.[74]

(top, L to R) Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, (bottom, L to R) Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, and Jeremy Renner portray the first six Avengers in the MCU and play a central role in the films.[75]

Favreau planned to cast a newcomer in the title role of Iron Man, as "those movies don't require an expensive star; Iron Man's the star, the superhero is the star. The success of X-Men and Spider-Man without being star-driven pieces reassures [executives] that the film does have an upside commercially."[76] However, before the screenplay was prepared he had approached Sam Rockwell to play the part. Rockwell was interested, but Favreau changed his decision after the screen-test of Robert Downey, Jr..[77] In September 2006, Downey was cast in the role.[78] Favreau chose Downey, a fan of the comic,[79] because he felt the actor's past made him an appropriate choice for the part, explaining "The best and worst moments of Robert's life have been in the public eye. He had to find an inner balance to overcome obstacles that went far beyond his career. That's Tony Stark."[79] Favreau faced opposition from Marvel in casting Downey, but would not take no for an answer, saying, "It was my job as a director to show that it was the best choice creatively ... everybody knew he was talented [and] certainly by studying the Iron Man role and developing that script I realized that the character seemed to line-up with Robert in all the good and bad ways."[80] Downey earned $500,000 for the role.[81] Marvel entered into early talks with Emily Blunt to play Black Widow,[82] though she was unable to take the role due to a previous commitment to star in Gulliver's Travels (2010).[83] In February 2009, Scarlett Johansson signed on. Her deal included options for multiple films, including potentially The Avengers.[84] Prior to her casting, Johansson had also researched other Marvel characters she could play, including the Blonde Phantom and the Wasp.[85]

In October 2008, Daniel Craig was offered the role of Thor, but ultimately turned it down, citing his commitments to the James Bond franchise.[86] In February 2009, a casting call went out looking for actors with certain physical attributes to audition for the role of Thor.[87] In May 2009, Chris Hemsworth was in negotiations to portray the title role after a back-and-forth process in which the 25-year-old actor was refused early on, then given a second chance to read for the part. Hemsworth's brother, Liam also auditioned for the role, but was passed on by Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige.[88] Kevin McKidd had also been considered for the role.[89] In June 2009, Feige confirmed that both Hemsworth and Hiddleston had signed on.[90] The casting process for The Avengers continued into much of 2010, with the addition of Jeremy Renner,[91] Renner went on to make his debut as Clint Barton / Hawkeye in an uncredited cameo in Thor.[92]

In March 2010, it was reported that Chris Evans was cast as Captain America.[93] Ryan Phillippe and John Krasinski were also considered for the role of Captain America.[94] In April 2010, Sebastian Stan, who had been mentioned in media accounts as a possibility for the title role, was cast as Bucky Barnes.[95] Mark Ruffalo was cast as Bruce Banner / Hulk by July 2010[96] to replace Edward Norton, who played the role in The Incredible Hulk (2008).[97] "We have made the decision to not bring Ed Norton back to portray the title role of Bruce Banner in The Avengers," stated Feige. "Our decision is definitely not one based on monetary factors, but instead rooted in the need for an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members. The Avengers demands players who thrive working as part of an ensemble, as evidenced by Robert, Chris H, Chris E, Samuel, Scarlett, and all of our talented casts. We are looking to announce a name actor who fulfills these requirements, and is passionate about the iconic role in the coming weeks."[98] In response, Norton's agent Brian Swardstrom decried Feige's statement, calling it "purposefully misleading" and an "inappropriate attempt to paint our client in a negative light".[99] In October 2014, Norton claimed it was his own decision never to play Hulk again because he "wanted more diversity" with his career, and did not want to be associated with only one character.[100]

The response of the introduction of the superhero team was the main highlight of The Avengers.[105][106] A. O. Scott of The New York Times felt the chemistry of the characters were the best part of the film.[107] Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly commented that the best thing regarding the film "is that it also unleashes them on each other. Simply put: These freaks of goodness may be a team, but they don't like one another very much."[108] Joe Morgenstein of the Wall Street Journal opined that the depiction of them quarreling among themselves comically was the most fun part as depicted in the original film.[109] The team once again mostly received praise in the sequel with critics praising the original cast reprising the role in Age of Ultron.[110][111] Scott Foundas of Variety felt that the actors now "wear these roles as comfortably as second skins". He noted the Fantastic Four and Justice League as teams that can only hope to follow in the footsteps regarding the portrayal of the characters.[112] Conversely, Scott Mendelson of Forbes disliked the concept that some of the Avengers (Tony Stark and Bruce Banner) were behind the creation of the antagonist of the film (Ultron).[113]

The depiction of the Avengers being divided in a Civil War as shown in Captain America: Civil War was praised by critics such as Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian and Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times.[114][115] However, Nicholas Barber of the BBC was more critical of the depiction, opining that their allegiance didn't make sense.[116] Additionally, Stephen Whitty of the New York Daily News was critical of the expansion of many heroes taking sides and felt the film was more of an "overstuffed" Avengers film than a Captain America film, as referred to in the title.[117] In 2018, around the time that Infinity War came out, film director James Cameron started a new term called "Avengers fatigue" that circulated online.[118][119] Cameron told IndieWire that despite being a fan of the films, he feared that they had dominated the film genre, and that he hoped that people were getting tired of it so other stories could be told.[120] This resulted in some criticism and backlash online regarding Cameron.[121][122][123] The fourth Avengers film, Avengers: Endgame, was praised as a proper conclusion for the superhero team.[124][125]

According to film critic Peter Travers, The Avengers director Joss Whedon "sees the Avengers as the ultimate dysfunctional family. Their powers have estranged them from the normal world. As a result, they're lonely, cranky, emotional fuck-ups, which the actors have a ball playing."[126] Also while reviewing the original Avengers films, Roger Ebert compared the original six lineup of the Avengers as uniquely different much like the assortment of dog breeds that consists of champions of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. He noted that both examples "are completely different" but "yet they're all champions".[127] Anthony Lane of The New Yorker explained that the superhero group was reminiscent to what "Bob Dylan, George Harrison, and the others did to form the Traveling Wilburys" in music pop-culture.[128] Callie Ahlgrim of Insider Inc. described the Avengers as "the most ambitious superpowered team in cinematic history" when doing a rank down of most powerful Avengers within the MCU.[129]

A Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N in Las Vegas

The team was the inspiration behind the documentary series Marvel's Avengers: Building A Cinematic Universe in 2012.[130] Another documentary series was created in 2014 titled Marvel Studios: Assembling a Universe.[131] An online exhibition called Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. based on the team is currently located in Las Vegas, Burnaby, and Tokorozawa, with a planned upcoming one in Dallas.[132] Avengers Campus, a series of attractions at various Disney Parks, is inspired by the MCU's Avengers, although it is an alternate version of the team.[133] The first of these Campuses opened on June 4, 2021, at Disney California Adventure.[134]

The Avengers franchise is the sixth highest-grossing film franchise of all-time at the worldwide box office, grossing over $7.76 billion.[139] Endgame is currently the second highest grossing film of all time, only behind Avatar (2009).[140] Endgame became the number one film in July 2019, surpassing Avatar,[141] however, Avatar was re-released in China in March 2021, reclaiming its top spot.[142][143] The Russo brothers congratulated James Cameron on his film regaining the title with an image of the Avengers' logo and Thanos' armor scarecrow dusting away into the Avatar logo.[143]

Lego Marvel's Avengers was released on January 26, 2016 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Macintosh, and Microsoft Windows. The story mainly focuses on the plots of The Avengers and Age of Ultron, but also includes individual levels for Captain America: The First Avenger, Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Marvel's Avengers features multiple MCU suit skins,[147] while 2018's Spider-Man features the Iron Spider armor from Infinity War.[148]

In October 2019, Marvel Studios and ILMxLAB announced the virtual reality experience Avengers: Damage Control. The experience was available for a limited time starting in mid-October 2019 at select Void VR locations until the end of the year.[149][150][151] ESPN and Marvel collaborated to create an alternate presentation that featured the Avengers among other Marvel superheroes entitled NBA Special Edition Presented by State Farm: Marvel's Arena of Heroes during the NBA playoff of the Golden State Warriors and the New Orleans Pelicans in May 2021.[152][153]