After the groundbreaking success of Phase 1, Marvel Studios took the next step and presented Phase 2 of the MCU. Production spanned from 2013 to 2015 and continued to build on the innovative concept of a shared cinematic universe. Kevin Feige once again led the developments, guiding audiences through a series of films that not only told standalone stories, but also advanced the larger plot of the MCU.

Plot summary of Phase 2 of the MCU:

1. Iron Man 3 (2013) : Phase 2 kicked off with Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) struggling to deal with the aftermath of the events from "The Avengers". The Mandarin emerges as a new enemy, and Stark is forced to prove his abilities without the Iron Man suit. The movie shows a more personal side of Stark and his development as a superhero.

2. Thor: The Dark World (2013) : Thor (Chris Hemsworth) returns to Asgard to protect the Realms from the dark power of the Aether. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) is drawn into the danger, and Thor must team up with Loki to save the galaxy. The movie deepens the relationship between the brothers Thor and Loki.

3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) : Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is confronted with a conspiracy within S.H.I.E.L.D.. The Winter Soldier, his old friend Bucky Barnes, is rediscovered as a deadly assassin. The film dramatically changes the MCU and leads to the dissolution of S.H.I.E.L.D.

4. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) : Marvel ventured into new worlds with a group of unlikely heroes: Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) , Gamora (Zoe Saldana) , Drax (Dave Bautista) , Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper) and Groot (voice of Vin Diesel). Together they fight against the power-hungry Ronan. The film brought humor and Cosmic Marvel to the MCU.

5. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) : The Avengers reunite to fight Tony Stark's self-created artificial intelligence, Ultron. New characters such as Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) are introduced. The film lays the foundation for future conflicts and developments in the MCU.

6. Ant-Man (2015) : Phase 2 concludes with "Ant-Man", in which Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) takes on the legacy of Ant-Man under the guidance of Hank Pym (Michael Douglas). The film combines action with humor and marks another step in the diversification of heroes in the MCU.

Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was characterized by profound changes, both on a personal and cosmic level. New characters, dark revelations and intergalactic adventures paved the way for the ongoing development of this unique cinematic universe.