"While "The Avengers" posed many visual efffects challenges, one of the larger challenges was pulling together the "tie-in" shot during the third act of the film. Rather than frames, this single shot is measured in minutes on screen and is one of the longest effects shots in the film. It incorporates both practical special effects and extensive digital visual effects by ILM. The New York City environment that serves as the setting for this shot (and virtaully the entire alien invasion) is computer generated by the visual effects team at ILM."















is a shared film universe consisting of superhero film adaptations based on characters and concepts from Marvel Comics. Phase I of the MCY saw Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, and Captain America: The First Avenger share themes, items and concepts before culminating in 2012's The Avengers. A risky endeavor, the MCU has proved a success with Marvel's The Avengers currently ranking as the third highest-grossing film of all time. The MCU is guiding by Marvel top executives including Kevin Feige, Jeremy Latcham, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winterbaum and Joss Whedon.The concept will continue on in Phase II, which currently has a film slate of Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy and The Avengers 2. Ant-Man is currently rumored to kickstart Phase III.or simply The Avengers is a 2012 American superhero film produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name. It is the sixth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film is scripted and directed by Joss Whedon and features an ensemble cast that includes Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders, Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson. In The Avengers, Nick Fury, director of the peacekeeping organization S.H.I.E.L.D., recruits Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, and Thor to form a team that must stop Thor's adoptive brother Loki from subjugating Earth.The Avengers premiered on April 11, 2012, at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California. The film received positive reviews from most film critics and set or tied numerous box office records, including the biggest opening weekend in North America and the fastest film to gross $1 billion. The Avengers grossed $1.51 billion worldwide, and became the third highest-grossing film of all time. The film was released on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on September 25, 2012. A sequel to be written and directed by Whedon is scheduled for release on May 1, 2015.