Russo Brothers Soft Prepping ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ While Finishing ‘Doomsday’

Marvel Studios has been on a quest for a project capable of recapturing the epic scale of ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ and this endeavor now encompasses two films instead of just one. Joe and Anthony Russo, the masterminds behind Marvel’s most significant crossover events, are at the helm once again. This time, they are not only wrapping up one massive Avengers film but also laying the groundwork for the next.

The Russos earned their reputation managing extensive ensemble casts long before they became Marvel’s preferred directors, honing their skills on shows like ‘Arrested Development’ and ‘Community’ before tackling ‘Captain America: Civil War,’ ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame.’ Their experience with large, interconnected casts is now being tested like never before as they juggle two Avengers films simultaneously for the first time in their careers.

In a recent interview with AP News, the Russo brothers disclosed that they are already “soft prepping” for production on ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ while still finalizing work on ‘Avengers: Doomsday.’ They explained that they are managing scoring and editing for ‘Doomsday’ while simultaneously laying the initial groundwork for its 2027 sequel.

Joe Russo acknowledged the challenges posed by this overlapping production schedule. He mentioned that creating one of these films is already the most challenging task he has ever undertaken, and producing two at the same time is almost unimaginable.

This level of difficulty highlights how much has transformed since the Russos last delivered a Marvel film. The industry has navigated a pandemic, shifted significantly towards streaming, and now seems to be embracing theatrical releases once again, all while the brothers expanded their careers by producing hits outside of Marvel.

Since ‘Endgame,’ the Russos have directed three streaming films, including ‘Cherry’ for Apple Studios, ‘The Gray Man’ for Netflix, and ‘The Electric State,’ while also launching the ‘Extraction’ action franchise. Their production company, AGBO, has evolved into a significant player in the industry during this period, producing not only ‘Doomsday’ but also the Oscar-winning ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once.’

Given their success away from Marvel, returning to direct back-to-back Avengers films required a substantial incentive. According to Anthony Russo, what ultimately drew them back was a foundational narrative concept proposed by cowriter Stephen McFeely, providing a compelling story hook that justified tackling two massive productions at once.

This overlapping approach means the pressure won’t ease once ‘Doomsday’ concludes its theatrical run this December. Instead, the Russos will transition almost directly into full production on ‘Secret Wars,’ maintaining momentum, cast logistics, and creative continuity from one film to the next rather than starting anew.

With ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ scheduled for release on December 18 and ‘Secret Wars’ already quietly taking shape behind the scenes, the Russos are treating this phase of their careers as a continuous, high-stakes endeavor rather than two distinct projects.

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