Marvel Studios (previously Marvel Films) was formed in 1993 by Avi Arad as part of Marvel Entertainment. The studio branch of Marvel Comics started producing films based on the iconic characters in 2004, came into the leadership of president Kevin Feige starting in 2007, and was acquired by the Walt Disney Company in 2009 (Louis D’Esposito has served as co-president since 2019). The first film to be licensed by the studio was 1998’s “Blade” starring Wesley Snipes, part of a seven-year development deal between the company and 20th Century Fox which included various superhero films produced during those years before Feige’s appointment, including “Daredevil,” “Electra,” “X-Men,” and “Fantastic Four.” Columbia Pictures’ “Spider-Man” films from director Sam Raimi began in 2001, and though superhero films were not the financial juggernaut they are now, these formed a solid base for the company moving forward.

Feige became President during the 2007 production of “Iron Man,” which would be the first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As of of August 2024, the MCU comprised 34 films, 10 television series, and two television specials. The TV series produced by Marvel television from 2013 to 2020 are now owned by Marvel Studios as well, and the acquisition of 20th Century Fox by Disney as 20th Century Studios means that characters previously licensed under that banner will now be property of Marvel Studios in future MCU productions.