MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios

Marvel Entertainment was a struggling toymaker not even twenty years ago. Today, Marvel Studios is the dominant player both in Hollywood and in global pop culture. But what accounts for its stunning rise?

In MCU, beloved culture writers Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards draw on more than a hundred interviews with actors, producers, directors, and writers to present the definitive chronicle of Marvel Studios and its sole, ongoing production, the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As they delve into the studio's key moments - from the contentious hiring of Robert Downey Jr. for Iron Man to the negotiations over Disney's acquisition of Marvel to studio head Kevin Feige's embrace of streaming TV - the authors demonstrate that the genius of Marvel was its resurrection and modification of Hollywood's old studio system. Dishy and authoritative, MCU is the first book to tell the Marvel Studios story in full - and an essential, effervescent account of popular culture.

'A superb chronicle of how Marvel Studios conquered Hollywood.... This definitive account of the Hollywood juggernaut thrills.' Publishers Weekly
'The book every MCU fan needs to read.' -- Alan Sepinwall author of The Sopranos Sessions
'A gift. Comprehensive, accessible, and entertaining, MCU makes for a great primer on a modern pillar of Hollywood entertainment.' -- Nicholas Quah Vulture and New York Magazine
'I watched all the movies. I devoured all the articles. I listened to all the pods. I thought I knew everything there was to know about the MCU . . . and then I read this magnificent book. For fans, by fans; hilarious, gripping, and emotional; no infinity stone is left unturned. I loved it three thousand.' -- Damon Lindelof Emmy-winning screenwriter
'A riveting, deeply researched history of the collaborative wizardry and backstage showdowns behind Marvel Studios' popcorn-movie empire.' -- Douglas Wolk author of All of the Marvels
'Robinson, Gonzales, and Edwards deliver the definitive chronicle of the greatest cinematic achievement of all time. An absolute treasure trove of depth and detail that will delight both new Marvel fans and Marvel zombies from way back, like me.' -- Jeff Cannata
'I thought I was an authority on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but I was wrong. This impeccably researched and reported tome is both a propulsive page turner and a real peek behind the curtain into how you build a cultural phenomenon, brick by obsessive brick.' -- Marc Bernardin screenwriter and comic book author
'A deeply researched and engagingly written spin through Marvel history that gives credit where it's due, without papering over cracks. Even the biggest fan will find new revelations and new perspectives in the often first-hand accounts of the studio's climb to world dominance.' -- Helen O’Hara Empire Magazine
'At some point, the movies based on the Avengers superhero group and its individual members ceased to be just comic-book entertainment; they became cultural touchstones. Robinson, Gonzales, and Edwards bring extensive knowledge to the task of determining how, and they obviously love the craft of cinema . . . Something important took place when the Avengers assembled, and this book provides the background for the sprawling canvas.' Kirkus Reviews

Joanna Robinson is a writer and podcaster at the Ringer. Previously, she worked at Vanity Fair. She lives in Oakland, California.

Dave Gonzales is a podcaster and has written for the New York Times and the Guardian. He lives in Denver, Colorado.

Gavin Edwards is the best-selling author of The Tao of Bill Murray and twelve other books. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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