After trades had revealed that Joe and Anthony Russo would be making a grand return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios took to the stage of Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con yesterday evening to confirm the sibling directors will be handling both “Avengers: Doomsday,” and “Avengers: Secret Wars.”
This news comes as the studio has now officially pivoted from Jonathan Majors’ Kang The Conqueror as the main villain of the next “Avengers” film, with Doctor Doom filling that role. Something that might have been telegraphed with “Deadpool & Wolverine” marketing featuring a “Secret Wars” comic book with Doom and The Beyonder on the cover in the void sequence.
Although, it’s not entirely clear if Kang won’t appear in the films after this pivot to Doom with a quick recasting. We’ll keep our fingers crossed, longshot aside, that Marvel can land Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington (“Training Day,” “Gladiator II”) to play the Kang Prime variant in a brief or minimized part.
The Russos were behind “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and “Avengers: Endgame.” They are replacing previous “Avengers 5” director Destin Daniel Cretton (“Shang-Chi”), who exited the project to focus on the “Wonder Man” series and his sequel to “Shang-Chi & The Legend of The Ten Rings.”
Screenwriter Stephen McFeely (“Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame”) is also being tasked to pen the two movies, seemingly without writing partner Christopher Markus.
We’re still waiting on the final lineup for the film after Kevin Feige has suggested recently that it won’t have “everyone.” Disney has slated “Avengers: Doomsday” for May 1, 2026, and then The Multiverse Saga is expected to conclude with “Avengers: Secret Wars” on May 7, 2027.
In the wake of the massive success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s last two “Avengers” movies, the studio has been trying to assemble an epic one-two-punch for the follow-up, with two more event films focused on the epic Marvel Comics team. Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige look to be finally zeroing in on a replacement for Destin Daniel Cretton (now focused on “Shang-Chi 2”) on “Avengers 5,” as The Hollywood Reporter reveals that The Russo Brothers are in “early talks” to not only take over from Destin but also take on “Avengers: Secret Wars” as well.
UPDATE: Kevin Feige talked to Inverse and poured a little cold water on the report, hinting that the report might be inaccurate or that they jumped the gun a bit. The interviewer and Inverse are framing this response as a “denial.”
“No, I can’t comment on it except to say it was somebody else a couple of weeks ago, and I look forward to seeing who it is going to be next week,” Feige says. “We’ll see.”
I asked Kevin Feige if the Russos are really directing Avengers 5 and 6. He denied it. Article: https://t.co/p5do3CVzsN
Of course, the sibling duo aren’t strangers to the inner workings of the MCU as they directed “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and “Avengers: Endgame.” They’ve had massive success at the global box office, a potential reason for their offer to return, by earning a massive $6.681 billion over their four MCU releases. Specifically, “Avengers: Endgame” stands as the second biggest movie of all time globally with an impressive $2.79 billion.
The latter two films were also shot back-to-back with a hefty amount of characters to juggle, which is also going to be an element of the next two “Avengers” installments. Something the Russo Brothers are really good at is managing a larger-than-normal superhero roster and will be an asset needed for these next two adventures. This development is certainly a bit of shock when you consider that previously, when the both “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” (title subject to change) and “Avengers: Secret Wars” was first announced by Marvel Studios they were extremely quick to add that neither project would have the Russo Brothers directing. The brothers had expressed some interest in tackling “Secret Wars” and the MCU’s “X-Men” reboot while on press tours for “Endgame” and other things.
Despite their thunderous box office and critical achievements with Marvel Studios, the directors have struggled more recently with critics on both the Tom Holland crime thriller “Cherry” and their $200 million-plus budgeted Netflix spy flick “The Gray Man.” They have another Netflix movie on the way, “The Electric State,” starring Millie Bobby Brown (“Stranger Things”) in the sci-fi pic.
While plot details aren’t being revealed at this time, established MCU screenwriter Michael Waldron (“Rick & Morty”), who has been the main screenwriter tackling the Multiverse-focused projects like “Loki” and “Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness,” had been brought in to help with the script for “Avengers 5.” Kang The Conqueror was originally going to be the villain of “Avengers 5” before Jonathan Majors was fired by the studio, and it’s unclear if the studio is pursuing a recast for Kang or simply going to jump forward to “Secret Wars” (the big Multiverse war film) by splitting the project into two parts.
Fans will be quick to assume longtime creative partners Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely could be making their return to the MCU (Yet this hasn’t been made official in any way, just speculation).
It’s hard to assume what the outcome of their involvement would mean for the future of the MCU. While cinematic universe reset rumors are persistent, the studio hasn’t telegraphed they have plans to reboot their superhero franchise anytime soon. The idea that the band is getting back to together I’m sure is extremely exciting for fans and the involvement of Feige on these two films might help to ease the worries of folks not completely thrilled with their last couple of directing efforts. One of their more glorious contributions was giving Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark a fitting death scene by sacrificing himself for the universe. Hopefully, Marvel and the creative have their wits among them and don’t attempt to resurrect Stark simply to lean into the Multiverse gimmick.
There have also been some expectations that mutants, and particularly the new MCU version of the X-Men could be part of these new movies (“Deadpool & Wolverine” has been already teasing this) alongside the new cast of “Fantastic Four.” Although nothing has been made official on that front other than the new movie landed screenwriter Michael Lesslie (a director could easily be announced soon).
This big news comes off the heels of various trade rumblings that “Deadpool & Wolverine” (another Multiverse-centric film) filmmaker Shawn Levy was offered the job on “Avengers 5.” But as a subsequent report from Deadline states, Levy will be focusing on his new untitled “Star Wars” movie that will see the Canadian director reunited with screenwriter Jonathan Tropper (“The Adam Project”).
We’ll keep our fingers crossed that someone has the good sense to include Multiverse antagonists, The Squadron Supreme, in these upcoming “Avengers” films. Hard to ignore that Marvel’s take on the Justice League would make for some intense action sequences and could keep the superheroes on their toes, not to mention potentially leading to a few on-screen deaths (Thor and Hulk being strong contenders).
Later in the month, we’ll likely hear directly from Marvel/Feige about this whole ordeal as Marvel is making their grand return to the San Diego Comic-Con with a presentation on Saturday, July 27, which should confirm this announcement alongside other big updates on future feature films like “Fantastic Four,” “Captain America: Brave New World,” “Thunderbolts,” “Blade,” “Spider-Man 4,” and more.
The Russo Brothers have been behind directing four major Marvel Studios releases Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. Giving the studio a combined global box office total of $6.7 billion and some of the biggest hits the Marvel Cinematic Universe has had, so far.
Having the Russos return is certainly in the cards given their success.
You might remember back when the drama between Disney brass and actress Scarlett Johansson over money in the wake of Black Widow being released last year when the Russo Brothers were revealed to have been in talks with the studio to return for a mystery project. Despite talking up the idea of getting their hands on the new Wolverine or adapting a huge crossover event like Secret Wars, we still don’t know for sure what exactly they would direct if they’d come back to the MCU.
While speaking with the Associated Press (See video interview below), they were asked about returning and also potentially tackling their highly-anticipated X-Men reboot. Joe Russo, of course, reminds us he has a copy of the Hulk comic where Wolverine made his first appearance and suggested once Kevin Feige was ready to pursue an X-Men film, they’d be game to be involved in shaping a new take on the mutant team.
“Wolverine being so essential to the ‘X-Men,’ of course, that would be a fun project to work on and find a new way into it. But I do think that’s probably something [Kevin Fegie] has rightfully put aside for a while to introduce some new characters to the world and bring that back when it’s ready.”
The duo isn’t hurting for project ideas, they’re about to release the massive Netflix action flick The Gray Man this month and are already set to bring their sci-fi film The Electric State, starring Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) to Netflix. Also, there are early plans to make a direct sequel to The Gray Man and a spinoff prequel featuring Chris Evans’ character, Lloyd Hansen. Not to mention other things like a live-action film based on the anime Battle of The Planets and a remake of The Thomas Crown Affair with Michael B. Jordan attached in the lead role.
On the X-Men front, it seems that Shawn Levy’s Deadpool 3 starring Ryan Reynolds is the only big mutant project the studio is ready to confirm at the moment. However, between announcements incoming at San Diego Comic-Con later this month and D23 Expo in September, we could learn about Phase 5 and X-Men plans very soon.
Brtish actor Taron Egerton had recently stated he’d be keen to play the new Wolverine incarnation after revealing he’s met with Marvel Studios for an unnamed role/project.
"We're always open to it." The Russo brothers discuss whether they'd make another Marvel movie — and the possibility of creating a new adventure for the X-Men. pic.twitter.com/yvZxukSYdv
— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) July 3, 2022
British actor Rege-Jean Page left the hit Netflix series Bridgerton to pursue a Hollywood film career and it seemingly has already come full circle with him returning to the streaming giant for a new project.
Variety reports that Page has landed a lead role in an untitled heist film that will be written and directed by Noah Hawley (Lucy In The Sky, Legion, Fargo) with AGBO producing, the production company from Joe and Anthony Russo.
The Russo Brothers are also behind Netflix’s most expensive film The Gray Man that features Rege-Jean Page on the call-sheet alongside Ryan Gosling (The Nice Guys, Drive, Blade Runner 2049), Chris Evans (Snowpiercer, Captain America 1-3, Avengers 1-4), Ana De Armas (No Time To Die, Blade Runner 2049, Knives Out), Wagner Moura (Narcos), Jessica Henwick, Dhanush, Billy Bob Thornton (Fargo), Alfre Woodard (Luke Cage), Julia Butters (Once Upon A Time In Hollywood), Eme Ikwuakor (Inhumans, Moonfall) and Scott Haze (Venom, Jurassic World: Dominion, Minari).
To those who lurk in the shadows, he’s known as the Gray Man. He is a legend in the covert realm, moving silently from job to job, accomplishing the impossible and then fading away. And he always hits his target. Always. But there are forces more lethal than Gentry in the world. Forces like money. And power. And there are men who hold these as the only currency worth fighting for. And in their eyes, Gentry has just outlived his usefulness. But Court Gentry is going to prove that, for him, there’s no gray area between killing for a living and killing to stay alive…
Page recently wrapped on Dungeons & Dragons and is attached to star in The Saint reboot, replacing Chris Pine.
Meanwhile, Noah Hawley was officially announced back in December as working on a FX on Hulu series set in the Alien universe with Ridley Scott set as the Earthbound show’s producer.
It’s also unclear when this heist project will begin shooting.
We’ve been excited about the potential return of the Russo Brothers to the Marvel Cinematic Universe after giving us Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.
There is now an update of sorts from the Wall Street Journal, as they point out the sibling directing team was indeed in talks with Marvel Studios to return to the MCU for a mystery film but talks apparently have stalled.
The reasoning is being linked to Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow lawsuit against Marvel/Disney, as the Russo Brothers are concerned by the issues raised by the actress including the potential release of the unnamed pic and if their contract for payment will ultimately be upheld by Disney.
This is the first real instance of fallout from the lawsuit since it was filed.
We don’t know what exactly that mystery film could be, but considering they’ve talked up a desire to tackle X-Men’s Wolverine and a hard-reboot is on the horizon. Marvel Studios could look to the Russo Brothers to help with the reboot as they did with seasoned MCU director Jon Watts for Fantastic Four. Watts being behind Marvel’s Spider-Man trilogy before landing the reboot.
However, this is simply my own speculation given the director’s comments in the past about being able to get their hands on mutants.
Here is what Joe Russo said about Wolverine back in February.
“Wolverine has always been such a special character for me. To realize him on screen, it’s very hard because Hugh Jackman‘s performance is definitive. It’s like Batman; you have to really think of a way to, you have to really find the right actor to come in and give a really different take to that character. But I would really love to see him on screen.”
I think the best thing is to take a break, without question. You need a [palate cleanser], you need to rinse the towel a little bit, let everyone enjoy what was, and then come up with something new. But I’d love to take a crack at Wolverine at some point.”
The Russo Brothers would be perfect to handle the scale and volume of characters as they’ve proven multiple times being able juggle a large roster of superheroes. Despite fans potentially wanting someone brand new to direct a reboot, Marvel might be more comfortable from their existing group of filmmakers given the importance of these MCU reboots.
Secret Wars is something they’ve also talked-up but we don’t have concrete information that is happening in the near future.
Another potential contender could be Anthony Mackie’s Captain America 4, given that doesn’t have a director attached. We had been hearing that the studio wanted a POC director for that one, but having Russo Brothers making a third Captain America movie wouldn’t be that shocking either.
Back at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, Anthony and Joe Russo announced a bunch of projects their production company AGBO would be developing and that group included a feature film adaptation of the beloved Japanese anime series Battle of The Planets aka Gatchaman.
There is now a status update as Deadline reports that The Russo Brothers have hired F9: The Fast Saga screenwriter Daniel Casey (Kin, 10 Cloverfield Lane) to work on the script for Battle of The Planets.
The series followed five young orphans who are trained from a young age to form an elite, intergalactic team known as G-Force, swearing to protect Earth and its allies from otherworldly invading forces.
Russo Brothers are behind some of the biggest Marvel Studios successes with Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avenger: Endgame. Their experience with large scale team based blockbusters should put fans’ of the anime at ease about a feature film adaptation. They’re currently shooting Netflix’s big budget spy action flick The Gray Man starring Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling, the streamer claiming it is their most expensive film to date with a budget of over $200 million.
There is an expectation the sibling duo will direct Battle of The Planets (given their personal connection to the anime) and could end up getting a hefty budget to cover the elaborate futuristic sets and the visual effects needed to bring the anime adaptation to life.
The project comes as we’ve seen a limited amount of anime/manga adaptations from Hollywood such as Alita: Battle Angel, Ghost In The Shell, Speed Racer, Guyver, Dragonball, Death Note, and Netflix’s upcoming Cowboy Bebop series. Other projects in development include Robotech, Attack On Titan, Gundam, and Warner Bros. has spend almost two decades trying to bring Akira to the big screen.
With most prime comic book projects have been picked over by Hollywood studios over the last thirty years there will be a point that movies based on anime and manga source material will end up having more regularly, because the genre concepts may translate well to the big screen.
MGM Studios is looking to be acquired by Amazon for a massive $8.45 billion and is chugging along with various high-profile projects in development, speaking of which, there is an update on their third Thomas Crown Affair incarnation that will be led by Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther, Without Remorse, Creed) as the titular gentleman thief.
The project, produced by The Russo Brothers via AGBO, has finally landed a screenwriter. Deadline says that Wes Tooke has been enlisted to help with the remake, his credits include Roland Emmerich’s WWII actioner Midway and the Universal Monsters comedy from Lord/Miller.
A director has yet to announced, but given how quickly the Russo Brothers jumped into projects like Cherry and the big Netflix spy action flick The Gray Man, it’s possible the sibling duo could consider directing the remake themselves.
Thomas Crown was previously played by Steve McQueen and Pierce Brosnan in their respective versions.
Michael B. Jordan is a busy guy as he’ll make his feature directorial debut with Creed III that might co-star Jonathan Majors (Lovecraft Country, Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania, Da 5 Bloods, Devotion) along with his potential follow-up to Without Remorse as Rainbow Six could move forward at Paramount/Amazon. Jordan has also mentioned a desire to return to the Killmonger role if/when Marvel wants him, despite the character’s death in Black Panther.
THOMAS CROWN (1999) – Bored billionaire Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) decides to entertain himself by stealing a Monet from a reputed museum. When Catherine Banning (Rene Russo), an investigator for the museum’s insurance company, takes an interest in Crown, a complicated back-and-forth game with romantic undertones begins between them. In an attempt to find out where Banning’s loyalties lie, Crown returns the painting and essentially turns himself in, hoping that Banning’s feelings for him will lead to an escape.
The Russo Brothers (Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame) are behind a new action-packed spy series at Amazon Prime Video, called Citadel with a cast that consists of Richard Madden (Game of Thrones, Bodyguard, Eternals), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (The Matrix 4, The White Tiger, Quantico, We Can Be Heroes ), and Stanley Tucci (Spotlight, Captain America: The First Avenger, Road To Perdition, The King’s Man), Ashleigh Cummings, Roland Møller, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Susan Lynch, Sara Martins, Leo Woodall, Gráinne Good, Osy Ikhile, Caoilinn Springall, and Leo Ashizawa.
The Ronin can now confirm that seasoned director Jessica Yu is helming at least two episodes of Citadel. Yu’s varied television career includes credits such as In Treatment, Billions, This Is Us, American Crime, Fosse/Verdon, Ratched, Hollywood, The Affair, I’m Dying Up Here, Scandal, ER, Grey’s Anatomy, West Wing, and directed the pilot for Walker.
Jessica Yu is also an Oscar-winner earning a statue for Best Documentary Short in 1997 for Breathing Lessons, which was presented to her by Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones.
Joe and Anthony Russo are producing via their production company AGBO and are expected to direct episodes alongside fellow executive producer Brian Kirk (21 Bridges, Game of Thrones, Luther, Boardwalk Empire, Dexter). Josh Appelbaum (showrunner), André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner, and Scott Rosenberg of Midnight Radio serve as writers and executive producers.
Citadel is assumed to drop on Prime Video sometime in 2022.
The sibling pair is also working on The Gray Man, another high-profile spy project at Netflix, which is said to be budgeted at over $200 million, making it their most expensive production to date. The Gray Man’s impressive cast includes a heap of well-known names such as Ryan Gosling (The Nice Guys, Drive), Chris Evans (Snowpiercer), Ana de Armas (Knives Out, Blade Runner: 2049, No Time To Die), Rege-Jean Page (Bridgerton, Dungeons & Dragons), Jessica Henwick (The Matrix 4, Knives Out 2), Alfre Woodard (Luke Cage), Billy Bob Thorton (Fargo), Wagner Moura (Narcos), Deobia Oparei (Dredd, Game of Thrones, Independence Day: Resurgence), Robert Kazinsky (Pacific Rim), Dhanush, Scott Haze (Venom, Antlers), Callan Mulvey (The Outlaw King, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Batman v Superman), and Julia Butters (Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, The Fabelmans).
Netflix’s most expensive original film has officially started production according to a Twitter post made by The Gray Man’s directors, The Russo Brothers. The film’s budget is said to be well over $200 million dollars and is expected to be a large-scale spy film, given the money involved we’re assuming there should be some over-the-top action sequences.
Production was reportedly taking place in Long Beach, California and it will reunite them with Captain America/Avengers star Chris Evans.
To those who lurk in the shadows, he’s known as the Gray Man. He is a legend in the covert realm, moving silently from job to job, accomplishing the impossible and then fading away. And he always hits his target. Always. But there are forces more lethal than Gentry in the world. Forces like money. And power. And there are men who hold these as the only currency worth fighting for. And in their eyes, Gentry has just outlived his usefulness. But Court Gentry is going to prove that, for him, there’s no gray area between killing for a living and killing to stay alive…
It’s cast includes Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans Ana De Armas, Wagner Moura, Jessica Henwick, Dhanush, Rege-Jean Page, Billy Bob Thornton, Alfre Woodard, and Julia Butters.
Their post confirms the cinematographer will be Stephen F. Windon, the director of photography for The Fast & The Furious films going back to Tokyo Drift. Stephen also worked on Star Trek Beyond, Sonic The Hedgehog, and G.I. Joe: Retaliation.
The Russo Brothers have added three more actors to their wildly expensive Netflix spy movie, titled The Gray Man. Deadline first reported that Rege-Jean Page, Billy Bob Thornton, and Alfre Woodard has joined the growing cast. Page recently joined the cast of Paramount’s Dungeons & Dragons remake and has become a favorite to become the next James Bond as he’s getting international exposure due to his series Bridgerton.
The Gray Man is said to be Netflix’s most expensive original feature film with a budget over $200 million with a cast that already consists of Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans Ana De Armas, Wagner Moura, Jessica Henwick, Dhanush, and Julia Butters.
It’s script is based on the 2009 novel from author Mark Greaney which was adapted by the sibling directors with a polish from their MCU partners Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.
To those who lurk in the shadows, he’s known as the Gray Man. He is a legend in the covert realm, moving silently from job to job, accomplishing the impossible and then fading away. And he always hits his target. Always. But there are forces more lethal than Gentry in the world. Forces like money. And power. And there are men who hold these as the only currency worth fighting for. And in their eyes, Gentry has just outlived his usefulness. But Court Gentry is going to prove that, for him, there’s no gray area between killing for a living and killing to stay alive…
Filming was expected to take place in Los Angeles.
THE RONIN 