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

By Matt Schimkowitz | July 27, 2024 | 10:10pm

Photo by Euan Cherry/Getty Images for University of St Andrews

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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 Wars—after 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.

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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.