The Russo Brothers Confirm Two ‘Avengers’ Movies in Production and Their Challenges

Marvel Studios has constructed an expansive cinematic universe, but the current workload of the Russo brothers is unprecedented even by those standards. Joe and Anthony Russo have been the studio’s preferred directors for executing large ensemble storytelling, tracing back to their early days on shows like ‘Arrested Development’ and ‘Community.’

Their knack for managing extensive casts and interwoven narratives is precisely why Marvel has brought them back for its most significant crossover event yet. Following the monumental success of ‘Avengers: Endgame’, which grossed $2.8 billion and became the second highest-grossing film of all time, the Russos returned to a franchise that has been striving to regain that cultural momentum.

In a recent interview, the brothers revealed that ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ has officially entered the editing and scoring phase, marking a significant milestone as the film approaches its December release. Even more astonishing, the Russos disclosed that they are simultaneously laying the groundwork for the film’s 2027 sequel, ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’, even though ‘Doomsday’ is still in progress.

Joe Russo candidly described the overwhelming nature of managing both projects. “When you’re doing one of these movies it’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done,” Joe stated in the interview. “When you’re doing two of them, it’s almost inconceivable. But it’s the second time around we’re doing two back to back,” he added, referencing their previous overlapping work on ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Endgame’ years ago.

This overlapping production schedule has the brothers dividing their focus between completing ‘Doomsday’s editing and scoring while also “soft prepping” for ‘Secret Wars’, which is set to begin filming in mid-2026 in preparation for its December 2027 release. Jeffrey Ford and Matthew Schmidt are managing editing duties for both films, while Alan Silvestri returns to compose the score, continuing his long-standing collaboration with the franchise.

In addition to the logistical challenges, the brothers discussed the pressure of returning to a franchise that has faced its share of ups and downs since ‘Endgame’. Anthony Russo openly acknowledged the expectations surrounding ‘Doomsday’ and its potential to help restore some of that earlier momentum.

“It’s a great question. It’s part of the unique challenge,” Anthony remarked, addressing whether the film could help stabilize the broader MCU. “The thing that Joe and I have always appreciated about our collaboration with Marvel is: Our job isn’t to answer for the entirety of the MCU. We intersect it in a very specific way. It’s that intersection which is where we can make sense of things,” he elaborated, emphasizing their focused role rather than attempting to resolve every storyline within the franchise.

Much of the excitement surrounding ‘Doomsday’ also stems from Robert Downey Jr.’s unexpected return to the franchise, this time portraying the villainous Doctor Doom instead of Tony Stark. Downey has reportedly mentioned that he wouldn’t have come back if the Russos weren’t at the helm, adding a nostalgic vibe to a project already being positioned as one of the highest-grossing films ever.

Filming for ‘Doomsday’ concluded last September after production commenced in April 2025, all filmed at Pinewood Studios in England alongside preparations for ‘Secret Wars’. With editing and scoring now in progress, the film is on track for its December 18 release, wrapping up this chapter of Phase Six before ‘Secret Wars’ debuts the following December.

Given the stakes surrounding ‘Doomsday’ to rejuvenate the franchise, it’s evident that the Russos are treating this overlapping workload as just another phase in their ongoing partnership with Marvel. Whether this ambitious strategy pays off will be revealed when audiences finally experience the finished film later this year.

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