Iron Man 3 marked the end of Tony Stark’s solo adventures in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), leaving fans wondering what was next for the iconic hero. In this article, we will explore what is the next Marvel movie after Iron Man 3, detailing the content point by point and paragraph by section.
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Thor: The Dark World
The next Marvel movie after Iron Man 3 was actually Thor: The Dark World, which released in November 2013. The sequel to 2011’s Thor saw Chris Hemsworth return as the God of Thunder, with Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as Loki, and Natalie Portman as Jane Foster.
The Dark World follows Thor as he fights to save the Nine Realms from Malekith the Accursed (Christopher Eccleston), a vengeful Dark Elf who seeks to use a powerful weapon known as the Aether to plunge the universe into darkness. Along the way, Thor enlists the help of Loki and his fellow Asgardians, as well as Jane Foster and her scientific colleagues.
While The Dark World was not as well-received as some other Marvel movies, it did help to further establish Thor as a major player in the MCU and set up events that would pay off in later films.
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Captain America: The Winter Soldier
The next major Marvel movie after Iron Man 3 was Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which released in April 2014. The film sees Chris Evans reprise his role as Steve Rogers/Captain America, who teams up with Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and newcomer Falcon (Anthony Mackie) to uncover a conspiracy within S.H.I.E.L.D.
The conspiracy involves the titular Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), a brainwashed assassin with a personal connection to Steve. Along the way, the trio must fight against HYDRA, an organisation thought to have been dismantled after World War II.
The Winter Soldier was a critical and commercial success, praised for its political thriller elements and character development. It also set up major events that would pay off in later movies, such as Civil War and Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
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Guardians of the Galaxy
One of the most surprising entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe came next with Guardians of the Galaxy, which released in August 2014. Directed by James Gunn, the film follows a group of misfits – including Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana’s Gamora, Dave Bautista’s Drax, Bradley Cooper’s Rocket, and Vin Diesel’s Groot – as they team up to save the galaxy from Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace).
Guardians of the Galaxy was a risky move for Marvel, featuring a relatively unknown group of characters and a more comedic tone than previous films. However, it paid off in spades, becoming one of the highest-grossing movies of 2014 and beloved by audiences and critics alike.
The film also helped to expand the cosmic side of the MCU, introducing important characters like Thanos and the Infinity Stones.
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Avengers: Age of Ultron
The next Avengers movie came in May 2015 with Avengers: Age of Ultron. The film picks up after the events of The Winter Soldier and sees the Avengers – including Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) – facing off against Ultron (James Spader), an artificial intelligence created by Tony Stark that goes rogue.
Age of Ultron has been criticised by some for having too much going on, including the introduction of new characters like Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany). However, it did help to set up future events in the MCU, such as Civil War and Infinity War.
The film also features important character development for some of the Avengers, particularly regarding their relationships and personal struggles.
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Ant-Man
The next Marvel movie after Iron Man 3 was Ant-Man, which released in July 2015. The film sees Paul Rudd play Scott Lang, a former thief who becomes the new Ant-Man when he is recruited by the original Ant-Man, Hank Pym (Michael Douglas).
Ant-Man has a more lighthearted tone than some other Marvel movies, but it still manages to deliver thrilling action sequences and an engaging story. It also introduces important concepts like the Quantum Realm, which would later pay off in movies like Endgame.
The film also sets up future events in the MCU, such as the introduction of the Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) and Lang’s role in Civil War.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe continued to expand after Iron Man 3 with movies like Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Ant-Man. Each of these films added something unique to the MCU, whether it be new characters, settings, or themes. They also helped to set up future events in the franchise, such as Civil War and Infinity War.
The success of these films paved the way for even more ambitious projects in the MCU, including the culmination of the Infinity Saga with Avengers: Endgame. The franchise shows no signs of slowing down, with a slate of upcoming movies and Disney+ series that promise to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible within comic book adaptations.
Some of the most highly anticipated Marvel movies on the horizon include Black Widow, which explores the backstory of Scarlett Johansson’s beloved character; Eternals, which introduces a new team of cosmic heroes played by an all-star cast; Spider-Man: No Way Home, which promises to delve into the multiverse; and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which brings back Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sorcerer Supreme and co-stars Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch.
In conclusion, while Iron Man 3 marked the end of Tony Stark’s solo adventures, it was just the beginning of a new chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movies that followed – from Thor: The Dark World to Ant-Man – each contributed something unique to the franchise and set up events that would pay off in later films. As the MCU continues to expand and evolve, fans can look forward to even more exciting projects that push the boundaries of what is possible within superhero storytelling.