Anthony Russo Just Revealed the Exact Moment That Created ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

Marvel Studios has spent months teasing exactly how ‘Avengers: Endgame’ connects to its long-awaited sequel, but most of that speculation has come from trailers and leaked footage rather than direct confirmation from the people who made it. That changed this week when co-director Anthony Russo sat down for a Q&A following a New York screening of ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore,’ the re-release currently playing in theaters ahead of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’s’ December debut.

Russo, who directed both films alongside his brother Joe, was asked how his perspective on ‘Endgame’ has shifted after working on its sequel. His answer pointed directly to one of the most emotionally resonant moments in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, the ending where Steve Rogers chooses to stay in the past with Peggy Carter rather than return to his own timeline.

Speaking to the crowd, Russo explained that the pivotal moment at the end of ‘Endgame’ now carries an entirely different meaning once viewed through the lens of what comes next. He told the audience, “we sort of play one beat past where Steve Rogers’ story ended with Peggy Carter, and in that moment, that’s where Doomsday is born.”

That comment directly references new footage added to ‘Endgame Encore,’ which alters the film’s original conclusion. Rather than ending with Steve and Peggy simply dancing into the credits, the updated cut adds a scene in which Loki, dressed in his Time Variance Authority uniform, arrives at their door while Steve hides around the corner. When Peggy asks who’s there, Loki responds cryptically that he’s not there to help her, but rather both of them.

Russo didn’t elaborate much further on what exactly that visit sets in motion, but the implication is significant. Given that a separate post-credits scene in ‘Endgame Encore’ is set inside the TVA and depicts thousands of universes experiencing incursions simultaneously, the timing suggests this encounter with Loki takes place sometime after the events of ‘Loki’ Season 2.

He used to be different.

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Fans have known since the first ‘Doomsday’ teaser that Steve Rogers, played once again by Chris Evans, would be returning to the franchise, appearing alongside Peggy Carter and even holding a baby, presumably his child with her. That teaser reframed what many assumed was a clean, happy ending for the character, suggesting instead that his quiet post-‘Endgame’ life gets interrupted by something much bigger.

Speaking previously about Evans’ surprise comeback, director Nia DaCosta revealed that Steve’s return had been in the works for “probably years,” having visited the set where the reveal was filmed long before the teaser ever went public. That level of advance planning lines up with Russo’s comments, suggesting Marvel built this connective tissue between the two films with real intention rather than retrofitting it after the fact.

With Russo now confirming that Steve and Peggy’s storyline is directly tied to the origins of the threat in ‘Doomsday,’ fans have a fresh piece of the puzzle to work with heading into the film’s release. Exactly how Loki’s visit unfolds, and what it means for Steve’s family, remains unclear, but it’s evident Marvel considers this moment foundational to the larger multiversal crisis awaiting audiences in December.

‘Avengers: Doomsday’ hits theaters December 18, giving fans a few more months to theorize about how deep this Steve and Peggy connection really runs.

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