Russo Brothers Reveal ‘Secret Wars’ Comic Inspired Their ‘Avengers’ Return

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The Russo brothers have disclosed the Marvel comic that motivated them to rejoin the Marvel Cinematic Universe following what appeared to be a triumphant conclusion with Avengers: Endgame. At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, it was divulged that Joe and Anthony Russo, commonly referred to as the Russo brothers, would direct the two-part climactic finale of the Multiverse Saga with 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday and 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars. Although the announcement was somewhat overshadowed by an earlier leak online and Robert Downey Jr.’s unveiling as Doctor Doom in the MCU, it was a significant revelation since the pair had seemingly moved on from the MCU to focus on other endeavors.

In an interview with Empire magazine, the Russos shared the reason behind their return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe after a five-year absence. They explained that they’ve maintained close relationships with Kevin Feige and the entire Marvel Studios team over the years, discussing numerous ideas. However, it wasn’t until they stumbled upon an idea that ignited everyone’s interest that they decided to come back. Anthony teased, “You wouldn’t have seen it coming until it happened, but once it did, it was clear that this is a story we needed to tell.” Joe added that there were other ideas they had been contemplating, but never found the right narrative for them.

In my perspective as a movie reviewer, the moment when everything fell into place was when I received a call from director Joe Russo, discussing with screenwriter Stephen McFeely about incorporating the “Secret Wars” storyline into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Joe explained his vision for this epic saga, and I must say it has certainly piqued my interest.

I recall discussing an idea with Steve over the phone, saying something along the lines of ‘Hey, how about we revisit Secret Wars? What do you think?’ To my surprise, he responded negatively, saying ‘Definitely not.’ After that call, you reached out again the next morning at 7.30 and proposed a new idea.

It seems that the two directors might have had discussions with Marvel regarding other projects outside of the Avengers, but when the opportunity arose to direct Avengers: Secret Wars, the Russos seized it. Given their previous statements expressing interest in directing Secret Wars, this isn’t particularly surprising. The duo has been frequently asked about it, and as recently as 2021, they were even contemplating a return to the MCU to bring the famous comic storyline to life. With no director previously attached to the film, this arrangement could have been in the works for some time, potentially being finalized when Destin Daniel Cretton stepped away from directing Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, which was later reworked into Avengers: Doomsday.

There is More Than One ‘Secret Wars’

The intrigue surrounding the Russo brothers’ potential involvement in directing “Secret Wars” within the MCU lies in the fact that they haven’t explicitly specified which particular “Secret Wars” comic book series they are referring to. There are two distinct comics titled “Secret Wars,” one published in 1984, known as “Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars,” and another from 2015 simply called “Secret Wars.” Both share similarities such as characters and villains being transported to a world called Battleworld, where a powerful cosmic entity instigates their conflict, and Doctor Doom seizing the powers of this deity. However, these storylines differ significantly in their finer details.

It’s generally believed that “Avengers: Secret Wars” might draw heavily from the 2015 comic series due to its focus on the multiverse, as hinted in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” and “The Marvels”. However, the Russos may be more inclined towards the 1984 comic version, given their familiarity with it as teenagers who were avid readers of Marvel Comics. Interestingly, the 2015 version was released during the time when the directors were working on “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and “Captain America: Civil War”. They might have been influenced by it while planning their epic two-part finale, “Infinity War” and “Endgame”.

Marvel Studios revealed plans for Avengers: Secret Wars in July 2022, but it appears they weren’t fully certain about the plot at that time, only knowing it would serve as a culmination of the story arc. This means Secret Wars has a lot to live up to, as it must handle a multitude of characters beyond those in Avengers: Endgame, while also delivering a satisfying end to the Multiverse Saga, which has received varied reactions from both fans and critics. Fingers crossed that the Russo brothers and McFeely can create another blockbuster finale like Endgame!

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2025-01-13 23:03