After months of rumors as to who would be directing the highly anticipated Avengers: Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, it seems like Marvel Studios might be bringing back the duo that gave us some of the greatest Marvel films ever — the Russo brothers.
Variety is reporting that Joe and Anthony Russo are in negotiations with Marvel Studios to have them direct the upcoming Avengers films after the duo took a break from comic book-themed films, following the record-breaking success of the Infinity Saga’s conclusion in Avengers: Endgame. Though the Russo brothers had initially stated they’d return to Marvel to direct a Secret Wars film if it ever came to fruition, Marvel has spent the last year or so searching for directors to take the helm of said film once it was announced.
Why Marvel didn’t simply ask the dynamic duo of directors to return is anyone’s guess, but everyone from Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi) to Ryan Cooler (Black Panther) to Shawn Levy (Deadpool, Wolverine) was said to be in the running to take the helm. Ultimately, the Avengers projects still remain without a director.
Complicating the matter is the fact that Jonathan Majors was supposed to play the main villain in both films as Kang The Conqueror, but after Marvel let him go due to his domestic abuse conviction, no one knows how they’ll resolve that storyline going forward. It seems like Marvel will recast the role, however, with word that the next installment of Avengers will no longer be called The Kang Dynasty, rumors are swirling that Kang may play a smaller role than expected if he’s even in the films at all.
Variety reports:
It’s unclear when Marvel plans to begin production on the upcoming “Avengers” installments. Anthony and Joe Russo’s next film is Netflix’s “The Electric State,” a sci-fi adventure with Chris Pratt and Millie Bobby Brown that completed shooting in late 2022.
The Russos have directed four Marvel films, including 2014’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War.” “Avengers: Endgame” is the second-highest grossing movie in history with $2.79 billion while “Infinity War” is the sixth biggest with $2.05 billion. They’re in the company of James Cameron as the only directors with two $2 billion blockbusters.
With a proven track record of not only creating classic but also well-written Marvel films, the Russo brothers are probably the safest bet to take on such a task at the current moment as many feel that Marvel Studio films have fallen way off over the past few years.
What do y’all think about the Russo brothers possibly returning to direct the next two Avengers films? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Photo: Getty