Avengers director Anthony Russo has revealed secret talks that took place before his surprise MCU comeback.
In 2022, it was announced that Phase 6 of the MCU would conclude with two new Avengers movies – the recently renamed Doomsday and Secret Wars. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo, who oversaw Infinity War and Endgame, later confirmed their return for the fifth and sixth instalments.
The Russos previously stated that they believed Endgame was "the end of the road" for them in the franchise. But in an interview with Empire, Anthony Russo revealed that the Marvel team had remained in contact, floating new ideas over the years.
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"Endgame was the end, and it took a little time for us to begin to think about it as something other than an end," said the director.
"We're very close with Kevin and Lou [D'Esposito, Marvel Studios' Co-President] and the entire Marvel team and we've had conversations through the years. We've talked about a lot of ideas," he shared.
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The team then discussed an idea that piqued their interest, which developed into the Secret Wars movie. "Really what happened was, we ended up stumbling upon an idea that activated all of us," Russo explained.
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"You couldn't see it coming until it came, and once it came it was like, 'Well, that's a story we need to tell.'"
Meanwhile, Joe Russo revealed that there was some back and forth before they all agreed on the project. "There were ideas that we were trying to wrap our heads around that preceded this one, and we just never found the story," he said.
"I remember calling [screenwriter Stephen McFeely] and said, 'Hey, crazy idea. What do you think if we all go back and do Secret Wars?'
You were like, 'F*ck no. Absolutely not.' And then you hung up. And the next morning at seven thirty you called and were like, 'Alright, I have an idea.'"
All four Avengers movies are streaming on Disney+. Avengers: Doomsday will be released in cinemas on May 1, 2026.
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Divya is a freelance writer with experience in entertainment and lifestyle news. Described as a "telly addict" since childhood, Divya was able to translate her interests into a BJTC-accredited, Honours degree in Journalism and Media. After working in communications and marketing, Divya joined Digital Spy as a Freelance News Reporter. She has also written for various publications including Metro, Asian World News and TwitCelebGossip; as well as interviews, features and reviews on her own blog. Divya prides herself on her TV, film and showbiz knowledge, always offering (not so) fun facts to her long-suffering friends and family. From soaps to superheroes, Divya is the go-to person for tailored recommendations and up to date information.
