When Does the Film "The Avengers" (2012) Take Place?
"The Avengers" (released in England as "Avengers: Assemble") is a superhero film written by Joss Whedon with Zak Penn [adapting "The Avengers" #1 (1963) by Stan Lee] that released May 4th, 2012. So when is "The Avengers" set?
It takes place on the fictional Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline in the year:
We know this because there is a temporary concert poster in the background of the Battle of New York at roughly three quarters through the movie, advertising a performance on "06.26.2012". Posters like this in a major urban center use glue and aren't put up a year in advance nor left up (uncovered at least) for a year after the event's date. So it must be mid-2012 AD.
2012 AD
We know this because there is a temporary concert poster in the background of the Battle of New York at roughly three quarters through the movie, advertising a performance on "06.26.2012". Posters like this in a major urban center use glue and aren't put up a year in advance nor left up (uncovered at least) for a year after the event's date. So it must be mid-2012 AD.
Furthermore, at the start of a series of scenes in "The Avengers: Endgame" (2019) that show us moments of this film from a new perspective, there is a large time and place setting title card over the footage that reads "NEW YORK 2012". Perhaps most solidly, during the film "Captain America: Civil War" (2016), General Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross says "For the past 4 years, you've operated with unlimited power and no supervision" almost certainly referring to this movie's events and that story takes place in 2016 AD.
2016 - 4 = 2012.
This Geekritique article and video examines its exact setting.
It is a chronologically early film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (the fourth chronologically to feature Tony Stark/Iron Man, the second with Steve Rogers/Captain America, the second to feature Natalia Romanoff/Black Widow, an early one to feature Thor, and an early one with Bruce Banner/The Hulk) and can be watched at its timeline point.
