Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase Two

Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a group of American superhero films produced by Marvel Studios based on characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics. The MCU is the shared universe in which all of the films are set. The phase, which began with Iron Man 3 in May 2013, features individual superhero films that build to a crossover film, Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). Phase Two ended with Ant-Man in July 2015. Phases One, Two, and Three make up "The Infinity Saga" storyline.

Kevin Feige produced every film in the phase, while Age of Ultron writer and director Joss Whedon consulted on all the films. The films star Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man in Iron Man 3, Chris Hemsworth as Thor in Thor: The Dark World (2013), Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), and Paul Rudd as Scott Lang / Ant-Man in Ant-Man. Downey, Hemsworth, and Evans returned to star in Age of Ultron. Evans has the most appearances in the phase, starring or making cameo appearances in four films. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures distributed the films, which grossed over US$5.2 billion at the global box office and received generally positive critical and public responses, with particular praise going to The Winter Soldier.

In addition to the feature films, the phase also includes two short films that Marvel Studios created for their Marvel One-Shots program—Agent Carter and All Hail the King—to expand the MCU. Each feature film also received tie-in comic books and some received tie-in video games. Ant-Man was marketed with the in-universe news show WHIH Newsfront.