Russo Brothers Call ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’ Required Viewing Before ‘Doomsday’

Joe and Anthony Russo have always been open about the ambitious direction they are taking with the next chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After stepping back following ‘Avengers: Endgame’ in 2019, the directing duo officially announced their return at San Diego Comic-Con, revealing they have found a story compelling enough to bring them back into the franchise that launched their careers.

This new story is evolving into ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ featuring Robert Downey Jr. making a comeback to the MCU in a drastically different role as Victor Von Doom. As excitement builds for the film’s release in December, the Russos have been setting the stage for how fans should prepare, starting with a film many viewers are already familiar with.

In an interview with Fandango, the brothers emphasized that ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore,’ the theatrical rerelease of their 2019 blockbuster, is not merely a nostalgic revisit. Joe Russo stated that the rerelease will serve as a direct link to the story of ‘Doomsday,’ explaining, “It’s gonna connect the story of the two movies.” He noted that there is a natural transition from ‘Endgame’ to ‘Doomsday,’ which also ties into other MCU narratives that have unfolded since, deeming it essential viewing for understanding what unfolds in ‘Doomsday.’

Anthony Russo added a more enigmatic hint, suggesting that viewers who experienced ‘Endgame’ during its original release in 2019 may not fully grasp where the story is headed next. This framing implies that the new footage included in ‘Encore’ is not just a nostalgic recap but something that significantly alters how audiences perceive the journey to ‘Doomsday.’

What sets ‘Encore’ apart from a typical rerelease is the technical enhancements made to it. The film has been freshly color-graded, and its confirmed runtime of 185 minutes indicates an addition of four minutes of new footage, which is a more modest increase than the seven to ten minutes some fans had speculated prior to the announcement.

Even without specific plot details, the timing of ‘Encore’ is significant. ‘Doomsday’ represents the first Avengers team-up film since ‘Endgame’ concluded the Infinity Saga seven years ago, making a proper refresher particularly beneficial for casual fans who may not have kept up with all the Marvel releases since then. Whether the additional footage focuses on Tony Stark’s legacy due to Downey’s surprising return as Doom, or connects to other threads hinted at throughout the franchise, remains a hot topic of discussion among fans.

‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’ is set to return to theaters on September 25, giving fans a few months to prepare before ‘Doomsday’ hits theaters on December 18. With the Russos framing this rerelease as essential rather than optional, Marvel seems to be positioning ‘Encore’ as more than just a promotional tool ahead of its next major installment.

For a franchise gearing up for what is being touted as one of its most crucial chapters yet, treating a seven-year-old film as mandatory viewing is a bold strategy, but it aligns with the scale the Russos have promised since announcing their return. Whether the new footage meets the expectations remains to be seen when audiences return to theaters.

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