Summary
Five years after the release ofAvengers: Endgame, one can argue that the MCU and the Russo Brothers need each other. It’s no secret thatAvengers: Endgameremains one of the biggest blockbusters of all time. This was largely due to the dynamic directing duo of Joe and Anthony Russo. However, Marvel Studios has struggled to attain the same levels of success since, and the same is true for the Russos.
The highest-grossing superhero movie of all time,Avengers: Endgameearned $2.797 billion worldwide, and at one point was the highest-grossing movie overall before the re-release of James Cameron’sAvatarin 2021.Ranked as one of the best MCU movies of all time often alongside the Russos' other MCU films (Infinity War, Civil War, Winter Soldier),Endgamewas the culmination of the MCU’s entire “Infinity Saga"which spanned over a full decade of storytelling. To that end,reports that the Russos are in talks to directAvengers 5andAvengers: Secret Warssupport the idea that working with Marvel Studios is mutually beneficial for all parties involved.
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Marvel Has Mostly Failed To Hit Endgame’s Heights Since 2019
Some Hits, But Lots Of Struggles
The MCU has been a bit of a mixed bag sinceAvengers: Endgamein 2019. While there have been some critical and commercial successes here and there, very few have reached the same levels of success as the most recent major MCU crossover, and many have even failed to meet the typical standards of success Marvel Studios had long been known for. Likewise, the same is just as true with Marvel’s various streaming series on Disney+ which first began with 2021’sWandaVision.
The one post-EngameMCU movie that got anywhere close to having the same kind of success was2021’sSpider-Man: No Way Home. The thirdSpider-Manmovie attained a worldwide gross of $1.923 billion, becoming the seventh highest-grossing blockbuster of all time. Likewise,the appearance of all three live-action Spider-Men in the same movie was a major cultural event, not unlike the Avengers' final battle against Thanos and the death of Tony Stark’s Iron Man inEndgame.
BeyondNo Way Home, Marvel Studios has experienced some other moderate successes followingEndgamewith features such asShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, andGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The same can be said for incredibly well-received series such asWandaVision,Loki, orMoon Knight. However, there’s unfortunatelya far greater number of MCU movies and shows that have struggled sinceEndgamewith very poor receptions, such asEternals, Thor: Love and Thunder, Secret Invasion, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,and more.
One of the very worst receptions to an MCU film post-Endgamewas 2023’sThe Marvels, having lost Marvel Studios $237 million. It also has the record for the biggest drop for an MCU film’s second weekend, with ticket sales falling to 78%. Additionally, 2023’sAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniahas the lowest MCU movie critics' score at 46%.Ultimately, the MCU has certainly had more losses than wins sinceAvengers: Endgame. While future offerings such asDeadpool & Wolverine,Thunderbolts*, Fantastic Four, andX-Menhave generated excitement, it makes sense that Marvel Studios is looking to effectively stack the deck for its upcomingAvengersfilms.
The Russos' Post-Endgame Releases Have Also Struggled
Some Successes, But A Good Number Of Critical Flops
Interestingly enough,the career of the Russo Brothers post-Endgamehas followed a similar trend. After directing both 2018’sInfinity Warand 2019’sEndgameback-to-back for Marvel Studios, the Russos began directing, producing, and writing movies and series through their newly launched production company AGBO. To that end,Endgamewas followed by films such asExtractionand its sequel for Netflix starring Chris Hemsworth, Tom Holland’sCherryfor Apple, the seriesCitadelfor Amazon, and Netflix’sThe Gray Manstarring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans.
Not unlike Marvel’s track record since 2019, the Russos have had a few shining successes. TheExtractionmovies gained very high viewership numbers, and the AGBO producedEverything Everywhere All At Oncewent on to win the Oscar for Best Picture. However, the majority have struggled to gain both critical and commercial success.Cherryreceived a 37% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, whileTheGray Mansits at 45%. Likewise,Citadelresulted in record viewership lows for Amazon.Having similarly experienced more struggle than success, one could argue that returning for the nextAvengersfilmswould be just as beneficial for the Russos.
Why Marvel Is Turning To The Russos For Avengers 5 & 6
A Strong MCU Track-Record And Proven Success With Its Biggest Productions
Having directedThe Winter Soldier,Civil War,Infinity War, andEndgamefor Marvel Studios, the Russo Brothers' track record is impeccable with the MCU. The same is true for their writing collaborators and AGBO-partners Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely who penned the scripts for all four Russo-directed Marvel movies. While it’s not yet been confirmed that Markus and Mcfeely will help write the scripts forAvengers 5and6,one would hope they’d also return alongside the Russos. Either way, it’s clear that Marvel Studios wants to replicate the same levels of success that were seen withEndgame(which haven’t really been seen since).
The Russo Brothers have a strong track record with the MCU. They also have the unique and proven experience of handling two of the biggest productions Marvel Studios have ever had, back to back.Following a trend of less than successful projects, Marvel Studios being in talks with the Russos to come back truly is a no-brainer.
After all,Avengersmovies have historically been the biggest and best movies the MCU has to offer, bringing all sorts of characters and previous events together as massive crossovers and huge pop culture events. Why not bring the Russo Brothers back, especially withreports that the nextAvengersfilms are set to feature around 60+ characters?The Russos helped bring an end to the entire Infinity Saga, so it makes sense to also bring them in to help land the current Multiverse Saga on the highest note it possibly can.
Avengers: Secret Wars
Cast
Avengers: Secret Wars is an anticipated installment in Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, serving as the finale of The Multiverse Saga. Scheduled for release in December 2027, the film’s plot remains under wraps, fueling curiosity about its role in the expansive Marvel narrative.
