When Did The Avengers in the MCU Actually Take Place?

The release year of Mary's The Avengers, 2012, is often mistakenly considered the fictional timeline year for the film. However, understanding the intricate timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) reveals a more complex narrative.

Timeline of MCU Events

The creation of the MCU involves a well-thought-out timeline that often mirrors the real world timeline. For example, the events of Iron Man actually take place in 2008, while Captain America: Civil War is set in 2017, and Thor: Ragnarok takes place a year later in 2018.

The Unique Nature of The Avengers Release Year

A notable exception to this rule is the film The Avengers itself. The film was released in 2012, but the events depicted in the movie all occur in the same year. This is a unique feature of MCU movies, where the fictional timeline often aligns with the release year.

For instance, the Civil War events are set in 2016, which aligns with the real release of the film in 2016. Similarly, Thanos arrives in the MCU in 2018, the same year Avengers: Infinity War was released.

Extra Time Elapsed in Avengers: Endgame

However, one notable deviation is Avengers: Endgame. The events of this film stretch over a period of five years, with the final battles taking place in 2024, five years after the film's release in 2019. This extension of five years has implications for future MCU films. For example, Spider-Man: No Way Home, released in 2021, takes place in 2026, as a result of these events passing over a five-year period.

The Impact of Spider-Man: Homecoming

The release of Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017 has changed the entire timeline of the MCU. The film clearly shows that the events take place just several weeks after Captain America: Civil War, which is set in 2017. Additionally, it is mentioned that the events of Spider-Man: Homecoming take place eight years after the Avengers event. This means that the Avengers timeline is likely set in 2009, eight years earlier than previously thought.

Resetting the Timeline

The new and more accurate timeline, starting from Captain America: The First Avenger set during World War II, can be outlined as follows:

Captain America: The First Avenger - World War II (1940s) Iron Man - 2008 (1Q) The Incredible Hulk - 2008 (2Q) Iron Man 2 - 2008 (3Q) Thor - 2008 (3Q) Avengers - 2009 Captain America: The Winter Soldier - 2011 Iron Man 3 - 2013 Thor: The Dark World - 2013 Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 1 - 2014 Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 2 - 2014 Ant-Man - 2015 Avengers: Age of Ultron - 2015 Doctor Strange - 2016 Captain America: Civil War - 2017 Spider-Man: Homecoming - 2017 Thor: Ragnarok - 2017 Black Panther - 2017 Avengers: Infinity War - 2018

This detailed timeline helps us understand the intricate plotting and the chronological order of the numerous films within the MCU, ensuring that fans can immerse themselves in the complex and rich narrative of the Marvel universe.