A Marvel Cinematic Universe Timeline

We've seen the films, we know they share the same universe but how does the Marvel Cinematic Universe all fit? Well, wonder no longer!!

As we reach the ‘home straight’ of Phase Two I feel the need to update my opening comments. ;xNLx;Firstly much of this work wasn't mine. In fact the predominant work was done by Rich Drees who is the Editor over at www.filmbuffonline.com where an early timeline can be seen. I have made my own significant contribution to this now. The sharp eyed will notice the more important changes.;xNLx;Secondly, and rather more alarmingly for timeline enthusiasts, (I know you’re out there...in the shadows. Be proud...if silent!) the amount of contradictions are beginning to tell. With that in mind it should be noted that there is a tasty little website run by Croutons that can be found at http://eatingcroutons.tumblr.com/mcu-timeline which is an excellent source. It provides evidence and screenshots for the majority of onscreen dates. Not only does it nail down the time of events but also shows the many anachronisms and contradictions that litter the MCU. I now invite the reader to sift through the evidence and make their own decisions on when things take place.;xNLx;Let the debate begin!;xNLx;I'm very happy to answer any questions regarding the timeline. Simply send me an email headed MCU Timeline to andrewnorfolk@hotmail.com Cheers guys.;xNLx;

Frost Giants Invade Earth Tønsberg, Norway. The Frost Giants of Jotunheim attempt to conquer Midgard/Earth. The invasion point becomes the site of an epic battle as Asgard’s ruler, Odin, leads an army to repel the invasion and protect the planet (1). Odin and his force push the Frost Giants back to Jotunheim where the AllFather discovers an abandoned Frost Giant infant whom he adopts, names Loki and raises as his own alongside his son, Thor (2). A truce is negotiated between Odin and the Jotun king, Laufey. The source of the Jotuns power, the Casket of Ancient Winters, is taken back to Asgard.

Odin Hides the Tesseract Tønsberg Norway . Odin hides the Tesseract, a cube-like object of immense power.

Steve Rogers is Born Brooklyn, NY. Steve Rogers is born to Joseph and Sarah Rogers.

Margaret 'Peggy' Carter is Born Peggy Carter Born

Rogers Discusses his Father Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, NY. A young Steve Rogers talks to his mother about his deceased father and military man, Joe (1). His father died from a mustard gas attack (2) with the 107th during WWI. Soon after his mother, ill from T.B., is unable to care for him (3) and Rogers is sent to an orphanage (4).

Dr Abraham Erskine Begins Research into Serum Dr Abraham Erskine, working in a German University, begins his research into creating a Super Soldier Serum.

Rogers Meets James 'Bucky' Barnes Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan. Steve meets James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes during a back ally scuffle with some bullies.

Johann Schmidt Reveals Theory of Norse Gods Duetsches Operhaus, Berlin, Germany. Physicist, Johann Schmidt, meets Adolf Hitler, Himler and Erst Kaufmann (head of the Sturmabteilung (SA)'s Special Weapons Division) after a Wagner opera. Schmidt reveals his theory that Norse gods and their magic could be more than myth.

Erskine Meets Howard Stark Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. Erskine and young, budding industrialist, Howard Stark meet at an Engineering Conference.

Schmidt takes Over The Nazi Special Weapons Division Hanselbauer Hotel, Bad Wiessee, Bavaria. As part of the Schutzstaffel (SS)'s Night of the Long Knives, Johann Schmidt assassinates Erst Kaufmann and seizes control of his weapons program.

Schmidt Recruits Arnim Zola Kummersdorf , Germany. Schmidt and SS troops attack SA Weapons Testing Ground where he finds and recruits advanced exo-skeleton battle armour researcher Arnim Zola.

Erskine Attempts to Escape Nazi Germany German/Swiss border. Erskine leaves his work in an attempt to escape Nazi Germany. HYDRA (Nazi Special Weapons Division) leader, Schmidt, takes an interest in Erskine's work and intercepts the scientist.

Erskine's Family Die in Concentration Camp Dachau, Germany. Erskine's kidnapped wife, son, and daughter die of typhus in concentration camp.

Guernica Destroyed Guernica, Spain. HYDRA destroys the city with advanced weaponry, at the time it was believed the Luftwaffe was to blame.

World War Two Howard Stark launches Stark Industries. They begin producing planes for war effort following attack on Pearl Harbor. His innovations later earn him a spot working on the Manhattan Project.

Howard Stark Joins the Strategic Science Reserve (SSR) Los Angeles, California. Howard Stark begins a demonstration which would showcase Vibranium, a metal discovered by Stark Industries researchers in Africa. Stark is approached by Col. Chester Phillips of Army Intelligence who shows him film footage of Hydra’s weapons testing at the Bombing of Guernica (See April 26, 1937). After being attacked by HYDRA assassins Stark agrees to join Philip's newly created Strategic Science Reserve (SSR), a top secret government agency.

Schmidt Becomes Red Skull Castle Kaufmann, Bavarian Alps, Germany. Schmidt takes part in a test involving Erskine and his Super Soldier Serum which turns Schmidt into what will become known as the Red Skull (1). Erskine is rescued by British Officer, Margaret "Peggy" Carter, and brought into the SSR as part of the Project Rebirth program along with Howard Stark to produce America's own Super Soldier (2).

America Enters WWII Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan. During art class Rogers and Barnes find out that America has joined the Second World War (1). Over the next two weeks Barnes trains Rogers at Goldie’s Boxing Gym. (2)

Rogers Passed Unfit by the U.S. Recruiting Centre Rogers and Bucky visit US Recruiting and Induction Center in New York where Steve is classified as 4F and rejected from service (1). Rogers goes on to be rejected a further four times in four different cities (2).

Schmidt Discovers the Tesseract Tønsberg, Norway. Schmidt discovers and takes the Tesseract, a source of unspeakable power , hidden within the monastery. Schmidt refers to it as "the jewel of Odin's Treasure Room".

SSR opens file on Project Rebirth SSR opens file on Project Rebirth.

Project Rebirth Chamber Complete Red Hook, Brooklyn NY. The SSR team finish the Project Rebirth Chamber. Howard Stark comments that it should have been called the Brooklyn Project in response to Oppenheimer's work at Los Alamos. At Camp Lehigh, New York Erskine rejects all the candidates selected by Col. Philips for Project Rebirth.

Anton Vanko Born Anton Vanko is born.

World Exposition of Tomorrow Queens, New York. At the World Exposition of Tomorrow, Erskine spots Steve Rogers at a recruitment office. Erskine offers him a chance to join the US Army through Project Rebirth.

Barnes ships out to England Barnes ships out to England the day after the World Exposition of Tomorrow.

Rogers Begins Training Camp Lehigh, New York. Rogers, along with several other volunteers, begins his training under the supervision of Peggy Carter, Dr Erskine and Col. Phillips.

Rogers Becomes a Super Soldier With Erskine's serum and Howard Starks Vita-Rays technology Rogers is transformed from a sickly weakling into the worlds first, and only, super soldier (1). Upon his transformation the secret location is destroyed and Erskine is assassinated by Heinz Kruger, an operative of HYDRA (2). The only evidence left that Project Rebirth ever took place is locked in Rogers' genetic code (3).

Rogers Joins the USO Unwilling to be kept purely for research, Rogers joins the USO and goes on a five month, morale-boosting tour of the US, the UK, and finally troops stationed in Italy. Given the persona 'Captain America' he becomes a national celebrity appearing in both films and comicbooks, establishing himself as a symbol of America's participation in the war.

Howling Commandos Captured by HYDRA HYDRA Weapons Facility, Austrian Alps. The members of the future Howling Commandos meet for the first time (1). As prisoners they are used to make weapons for HYDRA. They team up, at first, to get revenge on one of their captors after he viciously beats Barnes (2).

Rogers Frees the Howling Commandos Azzano, Italy. Frustrated by his lack of real action, and upon hearing of Barnes trapped behind enemy lines, Rogers attacks HYDRA facility in the Austrian Alps and releases the imprisoned Howling Commandos and Barnes (1). Schmidt, who has been using the Tesseract on site as a power source sets the facility to self destruct. Rogers slows the relic from exploding to allow time for the Commandos to escape. During his escape Rogers memorises a map showing the locations of all HYDRA's hidden facilities (2) as well as obtaining a small sample of the power source HYDRA have been using (3).

Howard Stark Examines Tesseract Sample Howard Stark begins to examine the sample Rogers picked up from the HYDRA facility. This sample will lead him to discover the theory of a new element.

Howling Commandos Destroy HYDRA bases Captain America, with the aid of the Howling Commandos, attack and destroy a number of HYDRA facilities across war torn Europe.

Rogers Invades HYDRA Base Danish Straits. Rogers invades a HYDRA occupied castle. Whilst there Rogers and the Howling Commandos manage to locate and capture an ancient viking rune stone.

Barnes Lost On a mission to apprehend Zola, Barnes falls into a ravine and is missing presumed dead.(1) Zola is captured and then interrogated by Philips.(2)

Barnes Found by Soviet Troops Barnes found by Soviet troops. HYDRA (having possibly infiltrated the KGB) begin the process of turning him into an highly effective assassin.

Rogers Defeats Schmidt Bavarian Alps, Germany. Rogers, with the help of the US Military, attacks and destroys HYDRA's last fortification. As Schmidt makes his escape aboard the Valkyrie Rogers gains access and a fight ensues. Schmidt, after handling the Tesseract, is transported into the cosmos(1). Rogers pilots the Valkyrie into a glacier off the coast of Greenland ensuring that the aircraft and its payload never reach the USA(2 & 4). Shortly after, the allied nations celebrate V. E. Day(3).

File on Barnes is Opened File on Barnes is Opened

V. E. Day The allied nations celebrate V. E. Day.

Howard Stark Locates the Tesseract North Atlantic. Howard Stark discovers the Tesseract in his search for Rogers but fails to locate the crashed Valkyrie. Rogers will remain missing for almost seventy years.

Zola recruited by S.H.I.E.L.D. Zola in August 1945, with over a hundred other German scientists, is offered a contract under Operation Paperclip.

Agent Carter (One Shot) Brooklyn, NYC. Agent Carter, working in data analysis and code breaking for the SSR under Agent Flynn, intercepts message ordering a number of agents to go to a mission location. Going it alone, Carter successfully retrieves the 'Zodiac' vial from the well guarded secret location. The next day, following on from her success, Howard Stark asks Carter to run the newly formed organisation S.H.I.E.L.D. with him.

Erik Selvig Born Erik Selvig is born in Stockholm, Sweden.

Nicholas J. Fury Born Nicholas J. Fury is Born

Peggy Gives Interview For a documentary now currently being shown at the Captain America display at the Smithsonian museum, Carter gives an interview detailing her time with Rogers.

Stark World Exposition Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York. Stark World Exposition

Howard Stark Begins Arc Reactor development Anton Vanko defects to the US and begins work with Howard Stark in developing Arc Reactor technology under the title of 'The Unity Project'.

Stark World Exposition Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York. Stark Expo held in conjunction with the World’s Fair.

Phil Coulson is Born Agent Phil Coulson is born.

Slattery Takes First Role Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool, UK. Trevor Slattery takes to the boards for his first official acting role as Boatswain One in The Tempest.