Superhero movies have become a popular genre in part due to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The popular franchise features films developed around popular Marvel Comic Characters. The first film to be part of MCU was Iron Man, released almost a decade ago. The franchise has spawned three phases. The second phase began in 2013 with the release of Ironman 3. The third and current phase commenced in 2016 when Captain America: Civil War hit theaters.
As with many popular movies, things just don’t end with the release of the film but often spread into other media and merchandising. This is true for the Marvel Cinematic Universe which has evolved and today encompasses so much more. These movies have also inspired numerous television series on the network or online streaming services like Netflix. Attractions have been added at amusement parks such as Disneyland and Discovery Times Square, featuring characters from MCU. Other inspirations have led to television specials, video games and even an endorsement for the Coca-Cola Company.
Given its wild success, many wonder what exactly caused the phenomenal growth. The excitement of these films has led to superstar casts who have reprised their roles in successive film releases. For instance, Robert Downey, Jr. has appeared as Iron Man not only in his namesake trilogy but also several Avengers installments, The Incredible Hulk, and Captain America. He is also slated to appear in the latest Spiderman movie and a future Avengers sequel.
As MCU continues through its third phase, more films such as Spiderman: Homecoming and Thor: Ragnarok due to be released this year with others in development. The effect MCU has had on other aspects of the entertainment industry is likely to continue as well with the gaming industry, including casinos, set to see the release of new games. The future looks bright for the Marvel Cinematic Universe which should come as good news to fans around the globe.