The Russo Brothers Explain Why They're Returning to Marvel for Avengers: Secret Wars

How the directors of Infinity War and Endgame were convinced by Kevin Feige.

They left Marvel on Avengers: Endgamethe biggest success in the history of cinema (nearly three billion in box office revenue, and we were not going to see them again. In 2022, Kevin Feige had even confided that he had tried to bring back Anthony and Joe Russo for Avengers 5 And 6. But the two brothers, to whom we also owe Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Civil War And Infinity Warhad declined.

Two years later, a dramatic turn of events. We learn in July 2024 that the duo will be back to direct the next two Avengers. Then, a few days later, during Comic-Con 2024, Robert Downey Jr. also made his comeback in the MCU. Not in the role of Iron Man, but in that of Dr. Doom, who replaces Kang (following the Jonathan Majors scandal) as the supervillain of Phase VI. The two films will be titled Avengers: Doosmday And Avengers: Secret Wars.

During an interview given to Empire for the release of The Electric Statetheir new sci-fi film to be seen on March 14 on Netflix, the Russo Brothers explained how they were convinced to dive back into the adventure:

“Endgame it was the end, and it took us a little time to start thinking about it as something other than a conclusion. We were very close to Kevin and Lou [D’Esposito, le co-président de Marvel Studios] and the entire Marvel team, and we've had conversations over the years. We discussed many ideas. What really happened was that we ended up coming across an idea that excited us all. We couldn't see it coming until it was there, and once it happened, we were like: 'Well, here's a story we need to tell'” – Anthony Russo

Obviously, the two brothers will not give more details on the idea in question. But the prospect of bringing the arc to the screen Secret Warsone of the most exciting Marvel comics, was too good to refuse. Even screenwriter Stephen McFeely, who had worked on the scripts forInfinity War And Endgamedove again. Joe Russo says:

“There were other ideas we thought about before this one, but we never found the right story. I remember calling Steve and telling him: 'Hey, that's a crazy idea. What if we all came back to do Secret Wars?' You told me: 'You're sick, never in life.' You hung up and the next day you called me back at 7:30 a.m. to tell me: 'Okay, I have an idea.'”

After suffering two big failures at the box office (Ant-Man 3 And The Marvels) in 2023, Marvel Studios slowed down the pace in 2024, with only one film in theaters: cardboard Deadpool & Wolverinea little apart in the grand narrative of the MCU. In 2025, Captain America: Brave New World (February 12 in France) and Thunderbolts* (April 30) will conclude Phase V, before the introduction of the Fantastic Four (The Fantastic Four: First Stepson July 23) which will open Phase VI.

Then, in May 2026 it will be the turn ofAvengers: Doomsdaywhile the second part of Marvel's new major diptych, Avengers: Secret Warswill be released twelve months later. Between the two, Spider-Man 4 will be released in cinemas in July 2026.