Marvel Studios

Marvel Studios is the film production and distribution company that currently owns the rights to all characters based on Marvel Comics (except the X-Men, Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, the Fantastic Four, Man-Thing, Daredevil, Kick-Ass and related characters). Marvel Studios is a subsidiary of the Marvel Entertainment, which is owned by The Walt Disney Company.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a shared fictional universe that is the setting of superhero films independently developed by Marvel Studios, based on characters published in Marvel Comics. The setting is much like the Marvel Universe in comic books. The universe was established by crossing over shared plot elements, settings, cast, and characters. Six films set in this shared universe have been released theatrically: Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk in 2008, Iron Man 2 in 2010, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011 and The Avengers in 2012. An additional three planned films are in various stages of production as of April 2012: Iron Man 3 and Thor 2 are in pre-production, and a sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger has been announced. Each film released within the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been commercially and critically successful.