<P> Captain America: The First Avenger began as a concept in 1997 and was scheduled for distribution by Artisan Entertainment . However, a lawsuit, not settled until September 2003, disrupted the project . In 2005, Marvel Studios received a loan from Merrill Lynch, and planned to finance and release it through Paramount Pictures . Directors Jon Favreau and Louis Leterrier were interested in directing the project before Johnston was approached in 2008 . The principal characters were cast between March and June 2010 . Production of Captain America: The First Avenger began in June 2010, and filming took place in London, Manchester, Caerwent, and Liverpool in the United Kingdom, and Los Angeles in the United States . The film was converted to 3D in post-production . </P> <P> Captain America: The First Avenger premiered in Hollywood on July 19, 2011, and was released in the United States on July 22, 2011 . The film received positive reviews and was commercially successful, grossing over $370 million worldwide . The Blu - ray and DVD were released on October 25, 2011 . A sequel titled Captain America: The Winter Soldier was released on April 4, 2014, and a third film titled Captain America: Civil War was released on May 6, 2016 . </P> <P> In the present day, scientists in the Arctic uncover an old, frozen aircraft . In March 1942, Nazi officer Johann Schmidt and his men steal a mysterious relic called the Tesseract, which possesses untold powers, from the town of Tønsberg in German - occupied Norway . </P> <P> In New York City, Steve Rogers is rejected for World War II military recruitment because of various health and physical problems . While attending an exhibition of future technologies with his friend, Sgt . James "Bucky" Barnes, Rogers again attempts to enlist . Overhearing Rogers' conversation with Barnes about wanting to help in the war, Dr. Abraham Erskine allows Rogers to enlist . He is recruited into the Strategic Scientific Reserve as part of a "super-soldier" experiment under Erskine, Col. Chester Phillips, and British agent Peggy Carter . Phillips is unconvinced by Erskine's claims that Rogers is the right person for the procedure but relents after seeing Rogers commit an act of self - sacrificing bravery . The night before the treatment, Erskine reveals to Rogers that Schmidt underwent an imperfect version of the procedure and suffered permanent side - effects . </P>

When does captain america the first avenger take place