Russo Brothers assemble for two more Avengers movies, and they're bringing Robert Downey Jr. with them

The Russo Brothers make their Marvel return official

Russo Brothers assemble for two more Avengers movies, and they're bringing Robert Downey Jr. with them

After parlaying their industry clout into game-changing action franchises for streaming algorithms, Joe and Anthony Russo are coming home. Announced at Marvel Studios’ Comic-Con presentation deep from within Hall H, Kevin Feige welcomed his Russos to the stage to announce they would helm the next two Avengers movies—Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Warsafter about 10 days of speculation.

However, that paled in comparison to the other big announcement of their segment. On stage, the two shared how they thought Avengers: Endgame would have been the end of the road, but in the time since, they found a way forward through a special story with a character that hadn’t been introduced yet: Victor von Doom Lining up a number of actors behind Doom masks, they revealed the actor who will play the elusive character: Robert Downey Jr. That’s right, he’s back. “New Mask. Same task. What can I tell you, I like playing complicated characters,” he told the crowd.

We know what you’re thinking. More Avengers movies? In this economy? Well, Marvel’s still gung ho about their incredibly lucrative superhero team-up films that were, at one point, cultural touchstones for recognition-based movie enjoyment. 

However, the post-Endgame environment hasn’t been kind to Marvel. Aside from Spider-Man: No Way Home and a couple of television shows, Marvel hasn’t been able to keep its winning streak alive. Of course, Marvel movies still make plenty of money. Even its recent underperformer, The Marvels, made $200 million. Yet the series has lost some shine, going from relatively critic-proof to releasing movies and TV shows like Quantumania and Secret Wars. However, the biggest hiccup was the implosion of the Kang Dynasty, which left the MCU without a crossover event to aim toward. 

The Russos, too, are on their heels a bit—in so far as the directors of several of the highest-grossing movies ever can be. Since leaving Marvel, the Russos released a series of expensive passion projects that slid right off the brain. Though the streamers may tell you these star-laden pictures were the most watched in history, we’re not sure anyone has thought about Apple TV+’s Cherry or Netflix’s The Gray Man in years—well, outside of making jokes about what the Russos are doing. As for their wildly expensive, globally-produced Amazon series, Citadel, the Italian and Indian installments of the Russos’ $300 million spy series are on the way, should anyone remember the show exists. 

There’s simply never been a better time to get the Russos back in the Marvel fold. Feige got Hugh Jackman back as Wolverine. He got the Russos back for Avengers. Robert Downey Jr., you’re next.

 
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