Russo Brothers’ Last 3 Movies After Leaving the MCU Are Enough Reasons For Kevin Feige to Bring Them Back For Avengers 5 and Secret Wars
- The Russo Brothers may direct the next two 'Avengers' films.
- They've excelled with Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbusters.
- Their recent films outside the MCU could sway Kevin Feige.
The directing duo behind the record-breaking Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame might be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Joe and Anthony Russo, better known as the Russo Brothers, are reportedly in early talks to direct the next two Avengers films – Avengers 5 (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).
Infinity War smashed US opening records with $257 million, while Endgame soared to $2.79 billion globally. The Russo Brothers’ experience with these massive films is undeniable. However, their expertise extends beyond the MCU movies, as evidenced by their latest three films.
Russo Brothers’ Post-MCU Success Beckons Return for Upcoming Avengers Movies
Marvel Studios has been on the hunt for directors to tackle these interconnected films, similar to the epic Infinity War and Endgame duo. The Russo Bros. are discussing a comeback to Marvel Studios to direct not just one, but the next two Avengers movies, according to sources from The Hollywood Reporter.
Joe Russo and Anthony Russo are great at making big superhero movies, and they’ve also excelled in streaming. With Avengers 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars planned to wrap up the Multiverse Saga, Marvel will undoubtedly seek out all the expertise they can find.
Since Endgame, the Russo Brothers haven’t been idle. The two brothers were actively involved in the production of the film Extraction (2020) and its sequel Extraction 2 (2022). The franchise has enjoyed commercial success.
They’ve also moved to streaming services, directing the crime drama Cherry on Apple TV+ starring Tom Holland, and the action movie The Gray Man on Netflix, featuring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans. Cherry is a visually stunning masterpiece and has received positive reviews from critics, while The Gray Man was praised for its frenetic action scenes.
Their proven track record with these films is enough to convince Kevin Feige to consider them. They’ve expanded their reach, producing highly acclaimed movies like Everything Everywhere All at Once and popular series like Amazon’s Citadel. Their next venture is the sci-fi adventure The Electric State for Netflix.
Marvel Seek Familiar Hands for Ambitious Projects
According to Deadline, Marvel’s first choice, Destin Daniel Cretton (known for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), withdrew from Avengers 5 in 2023. Shawn Levy (director of the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine) was also considered (as per another report of Deadline).
Avengers 5 was supposed to have Kang as the main villain, similar to how Thanos was in earlier MCU phases. However, Marvel cut ties with actor Jonathan Majors after he faced domestic violence charges. Now, the studio will have to find a new actor for Kang and maybe change the script by Michael Waldron (producer and writer of Loki). As for Avengers: Secret Wars, it doesn’t have a writer yet.
