Could a reunion between the Russo Brothers and Disney be on the horizon? The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Anthony and Joe Russo are in early discussions to direct ‘Avengers 5’ and ‘6’, a potential return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe after their successful run with ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Endgame’.
The Russos are no strangers to blockbuster success, having directed some of Marvel’s most iconic films including ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’, ‘Captain America: Civil War’, and the aforementioned ‘Avengers’ films. Their two Avengers films hold the distinction of being among the six highest-grossing films of all time.
Since parting ways with Marvel after ‘Endgame’, the Russo Brothers have continued to produce successful projects, including the ‘Extraction’ films, ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’, and ‘Citadel’ on Prime Video. While their directorial efforts in films like ‘Cherry’ and ‘The Gray Man’ received less favorable reviews, their upcoming film ‘The Electric State’ is set to stream on Netflix in late 2024 or 2025.
The news of the Russos’ potential return to Marvel comes at a time when the studio is actively searching for directors for ‘Avengers 5’ and ‘6’, considered high-priority projects. ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ director Shawn Levy was initially rumored to be the frontrunner for ‘Avengers 5’, but he is likely to focus on his upcoming Star Wars project after completing his work on ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ and ‘Stranger Things’ season 5.
‘Avengers 5’ was originally titled ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’ with Destin Daniel Cretton attached to direct. However, Cretton exited the project in November 2023, and Marvel subsequently fired Jonathan Majors, who played Kang, following sexual assault allegations. ‘Avengers 5’ will now receive a new title and a revised focus. Meanwhile, ‘Avengers 6’ will remain ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ and could potentially feature a reunion of over 60 MCU characters, including legacy roles like Thor and Hulk.
The proposed dates for the releases of ‘Avengers 5’ and ‘6’ are May 1, 2026, and May 7, 2027, respectively. The potential return of the Russo Brothers to the Marvel universe would undoubtedly be a significant event for fans and the industry alike, bringing a wealth of experience and a proven track record for success to the highly anticipated ‘Avengers’ sequels.
