Marvel planning shock movie reunion with the Russo brothers as directing duo eyed for Avengers 5 and 6
‘You could not live with your own failure. Where did that bring you? Back to me – err, we mean, us’
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Marvelis reportedly in early talks with the Russo brothers about helming the next twoAvengersmovies.
According toThe Hollywood Reporter(THR), the comic book titan wants Anthony and Joe Russo to directAvengers 5and its sequel. THR is keen to stress that the duo haven’t agreed to return but, if they sign on to tackle Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) next superhero team-up films, it would mark a sensational U-turn for the pair, who have regularly voiced their hesitance over directing more ensemble superhero films.
The Russos are the latest individuals to be linked with the vacant director’s (or should that now be directors'?) chair forAvengers 5, which was known asAvengers: The Kang Dynasty.Shang-Chifilmmaker Daniel Destin Cretton was initially installed as its director, buthe walked away from the project in November 2023. Shawn Levy, who helmed the forthcoming MCU movieDeadpool and Wolverine, was alsoreportedly in the frame to directAvengers 5as recently as June 5.
Joe and Anthony Russo are assembling a team — once again.The Russo Bros., are in early talks to return to Marvel Studios to direct not just one, but the next two, #Avengers movies: https://t.co/DguOwNGz7b pic.twitter.com/DoFwboOvgaJuly 17, 2024
Should the Russo brothers rekindle their working relationship with Marvel, their helming ofAvengers 5andAvengers 6– the latter is still expected to be calledAvengers: Secret Wars– could eventually take their MCU movie directing tally to six. The pair steered the ship on 2014’sCaptain America: The Winter Soldier, 2016’sCaptain America: Civil War, 2018’sAvengers: Infinity War, and 2019’sAvengers: Endgame, but have spent the past five years developing films and TV shows for streaming platforms, such asNetflixandApple TV Plus, through their AGBO production company.
The Russos' apparent involvement isn’t the only recent rumor that’s circulated online aboutAvengers 5. In April, it was claimed thatAvengers 5would start filming in early 2025, with that report arriving two months afterMarvel reportedly droppedThe Kang Dynastypart of its title. The supposed reworking of said film’s name came two months afterMarvel fired former Kang actor Jonathan Majors; the disgraced star being found guilty of two of four sexual assault charges last December.
Russos, assemble?
Thrilling though it would be to see Joe and Anthony Russo return to direct two more MCU movies, I’m conflicted over whether they should.
On the one hand, their potential homecoming would be a major boon to Marvel Studios. Their previous MCU flicks have been critically and commercially acclaimed, with fans and critics regularly hailing that quartet as some of thebest Marvel moviesever made. Let’s not forget thatInfinity WarandEndgameare two of the highest-grossing films of all-time, too – the pair sitting sixth ($2.048 billion globally) and second ($2.797 billion worldwide), respectively, on the biggest money-spinning movies list. Armed with their experience of directing ensemble supergroup movies, plus the clear evidence of how well their previous superhero films have performed, the Russos would be a safe but no less spectacular pairing to deliver more epic MCU films with the next twoAvengersfilms.
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That said, they didn’t do it all on their own. Indeed, the work of screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who penned the scripts for the Russos' four Marvel films, was just as important to each flick’s success. Unless that duo also returns to write each movie’s screenplay – and they could, with rumors thatpreviously installedAvengers 5writer Michael Waldronmay no longer be working on it (perNexus Point NewsandThe Hot Mic) – the Russos might not have the same quality of writing to craft two more excellentAvengersfilms. That’s before you realize that, post-Endgame, the directing duo’s other projects haven’t been runaway successes –Apple’sCherry, Netflix’sThe Gray Man, and Prime Video’sCitadelare just three such productions that have been panned and/or failed to capture viewers' attentions.
Joe and Anthony Russo’s possible return, then, isn’t a guaranteed win for Marvel. Of the names bandied about thus far, they’re the ones I’d most like to see directAvengers 5andAvengers 6, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be giving them a free pass, especially in light of the inconsistent quality of theirs and Marvel’s productions sinceEndgame.
Hopefully, with San Diego Comic-Con around the corner, we’ll find out if they’re really involved when Marvel holds its main Hall H panel on Saturday, July 27. In the meantime, you can watch all fourAvengersfilms to date onDisney Plus.
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As TechRadar’s senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You’ll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.
An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as thisMoon Knight TV spot.
Away from work, Tom can be found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, reading the many unread books on his shelf, staying fit at the gym, and petting every dog he comes across.
Got a scoop, interesting story, or an intriguing angle on the latest news in entertainment? Feel free to drop him a line.
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