Russo Brothers Reveal They’re Already “Soft Prepping” ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ While Finishing Doomsday

Marvel Studios has spent the past several years searching for a project big enough to recapture the scale of ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ and that search now spans two films rather than just one. Joe and Anthony Russo, the directors behind Marvel’s biggest crossover events, are once again in the driver’s seat, but this time they’re not just finishing one massive Avengers movie, they’re already setting up the next.

The Russos built their reputation managing sprawling ensemble casts long before they became Marvel’s go-to directors, cutting their teeth on shows like ‘Arrested Development’ and ‘Community’ before taking on ‘Captain America: Civil War,’ ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame.’ That experience with large, interlocking casts is being put to an unprecedented test as the brothers juggle two Avengers films at once for the first time in their careers.

In a new interview with AP News, the Russo brothers revealed they’re already “soft prepping” production on ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ even while still finishing work on ‘Avengers: Doomsday.’ The brothers explained they were handling scoring and editing duties on ‘Doomsday’ while simultaneously laying early groundwork for its 2027 follow-up.

Joe Russo didn’t downplay just how demanding this overlapping production schedule has become. He explained that making one of these films is already the hardest thing he’s ever done, and doing two of them simultaneously is almost inconceivable by comparison.

That level of difficulty reflects just how much has changed since the Russos last delivered a Marvel movie. The industry weathered a pandemic, pivoted heavily toward streaming, and has since swung back toward embracing theatrical releases again, all while the brothers built out an entirely separate career producing hits away from 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, grew into a genuine industry player during that stretch, producing not just ‘Doomsday’ but the Oscar-winning ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once.’

Given how much success the Russos found working outside Marvel, returning to direct back-to-back Avengers films required something substantial to pull them back in. According to Anthony Russo, what ultimately convinced them was a foundational narrative concept pitched by cowriter Stephen McFeely, giving the brothers a story hook compelling enough to justify tackling two massive productions simultaneously.

That overlapping approach also means the pressure doesn’t ease once ‘Doomsday’ wraps its theatrical run this December. Instead, the Russos will move almost directly into full production on ‘Secret Wars,’ carrying momentum, cast logistics, and creative continuity from one film straight into the next rather than starting fresh.

With ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ set for its December 18 release and ‘Secret Wars’ already quietly taking shape behind the scenes, the Russos are treating this stretch of their careers as one continuous, high-stakes undertaking rather than two separate projects.

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