The Russo Bros. Tease a “Radical” and “Challenging” Story for AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY and SECRET WARS
We know that Marvel Studios and The Russo Brothers are preparing to deliver something epic with the next two Avengers movies. something that might push the boundaries of what fans expect from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
With Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars slated for 2026 and 2027, Joe and Anthony Russo have hinted that these upcoming films will take the franchise in an unexpected and daring direction.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Joe Russo talked about their approach, saying:
"I think we're always looking for new phases. There's always new stories to tell. I think these movies are going to be a surprise to people. We found a way into the story that's very exciting for us but, we think, very radical. I think it's going to challenge audiences."
That’s a strong statement coming from the directors of Infinity War and Endgame, which are two of the biggest blockbusters of all time. But what exactly makes these next Avengers films so "radical"? That has yet to be seen, but I hope that they manage to pull something off that will blow fan’s minds.
Avengers: Doomsday arrives first on May 1, 2026, and Robert Downey Jr. is set to take on the role of Doctor Doom. Chris Evans will also return as Steve Rogers, and the movie will include characters from Fantastic Four and Thunderbolts. There are so many casting rumors, but it’s safe to say that lots of Marvel characters are going to show up!
Then comes Avengers: Secret Wars on May 7, 2027. While it's unclear if it will mirror the two-part storytelling of Infinity War and Endgame, the Russos confirmed it will be filmed "fairly back to back" in London. That suggests the two films are connected, even if Marvel hasn’t explicitly said they’re a direct two-parter.
It’s great to hear the Russo Bros. talk about shaking things up in the MCU. Marvel should’ve been telling “radical” and “challenging” stories all along. They really don’t have to wait for Avengers movies to do that.
When previously talking about coming back to Marvel, Anthony Russo said: “Endgame was the end, and it took a little time for us to begin to think about it as something other than an end.
“We’re very close with Kevin and Lou [D’Esposito, Marvel Studios’ Co-President] and the entire Marvel team and we’ve had conversations through the years. We’ve talked about a lot of ideas.
“Really what happened was, we ended up stumbling upon an idea that activated all of us. You couldn’t see it coming until it came, and once it came it was like, ‘Well, that’s a story we need to tell.’”
It wasn’t always a sure thing that the Russos would return. Joe Russo explained: “There were ideas that we were trying to wrap our heads around that preceded this one, and we just never found the story.
“I remember calling Steve [McFeely] and said, ‘Hey, crazy idea. What do you think if we all go back and do Secret Wars?’ You were like, ‘F*ck no. Absolutely not.’ And then you hung up. And the next morning at 7.30 you called and were like, ‘Alright, I have an idea.’”
The filmmakers previously released a statement about their return to Marvel syaing:
“You’re the best damn fans in the world, and we’ve missed you.
“When we made Avengers: Endgame we truly believed that it was the end of the road for us in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We had put all the passion, love and imagination that we had into The Winter Soldier, Civil War, Infinity War, and then culminated it all with Endgame.
“All within a few years. We had spent everything we had creatively, and we left all our emotions on the floor. But in the time since, we began to feel that there was perhaps one story where we could find a new narrative path forward. It’s the reason we fell in love with comic books in the first place. That story is Secret Wars.
“We cannot express how excited we are to dive back into this world, and explore such a deliciously complex character like Victor Von Doom. And there is no better friend or collaborator to do that with, [than] THE great [Robert Downey Jr.].
“Marvel fam, let’s do this...”