Fans have been eagerly awaiting the return of The Russo Brothers to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially after hearing that they’re behind the upcoming Avengers movies. However, the directors didn’t jump back into the superhero world immediately. In a recent interview with Empire, Joe and Anthony Russo revealed that they were initially hesitant to take on another Avengers film.
While they weren’t initially interested in revisiting the franchise, they shared that the idea that ultimately convinced them was “one that activated all of us.” According to Anthony Russo, it was a fantastic story that drew them back in for future Avengers movies.
Joe Russo elaborated on the process, recalling how he pitched the idea of doing Secret Wars to their frequent collaborator, screenwriter Stephen McFeely. He said, “I remember calling Steve and saying, ‘Hey, crazy idea. What do you think if we all go back and do Secret Wars?’ And you were like, ‘F**k no. Absolutely not.’ And then you hung up.” It took some convincing, but it was this bold concept that eventually won them over.
The Russo Brothers are no strangers to Marvel fans, having first made a big impact with Captain America: The Winter Soldier and later directing Captain America: Civil War. Their journey with Marvel culminated in the epic Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, which became monumental moments in the MCU.
Now, they’re back to direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, two of the most anticipated films in the MCU’s future. Alongside them, screenwriting duo Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely are also returning to work on the scripts. Avengers: Doomsday is set to release on May 1, 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars will follow on May 7, 2027.
