The first movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was "Iron Man" released in 2008. Directed by Jon Favreau, the movie introduced Robert Downey Jr. as the billionaire inventor Tony Stark, who creates a high-tech suit of armor to become the superhero Iron Man. The film's success paved the way for a plethora of other Marvel films that followed, including sequels to "Iron Man," "Captain America," "Thor," and "Avengers," amongst others, that all became part of the expanding MCU.