Skip to main content

Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War saga has found its directors

avengers infinity war directors captain america guardians of the galaxy thanos
Image used with permission by copyright holder
It’s been rumored for a while now that Captain America: The Winter Soldier directing duo Joe and Anthony Russo were the leading contenders to direct the two-part Avengers: Infinity War event, and now their involvement has apparently been confirmed by various industry outlets.

The brothers will take over the Avengers franchise from director Joss Whedon, according to the Hollywood Reporter, and likely begin filming both parts of Infinity War in one long shoot beginning in 2016. Avengers: Infinity War – Part I is currently scheduled to hit theaters in 2018, with the second half of the saga arriving a year later.

Recommended Videos

Updated 4-8-15: Marvel Studios has officially confirmed that Joe and Anthony Russo will direct both parts of the Avengers: Infinity War saga that will unfold in “Phase Three” of the studio’s cinematic universe. 

The Russo brothers are currently working on Captain America: Civil War, the first film in “Phase Three” of Marvel’s cinematic universe, which begins filming in a few weeks. That film is said to be a “mini-Avengers” of sorts due to its large cast of superhero characters, which will include the debut of Chadwick Boseman as the African hero Black Panther.

While nothing is official at this point regarding the plot of Avengers: Infinity War, it’s likely that the two-part saga will bring together the threads from all of the previous films related to Thanos’ pursuit of the Infinity Stones, and offer up a massive, cosmic battle that unites much of Marvel’s cinematic universe.

The Russo duo has been in high demand lately, with rumors swirling that the pair are also being pursued as directors for another Ghostbusters movie — this time, with Channing Tatum attached to star — that will be released after the female-led film directed by Paul Feig and exist in the same, shared universe.

Captain America: Civil War hits theaters May 6, 2016, with Avengers: Infinity War – Part I targeting a premiere on May 4, 2018, and Part II arriving one year later on May 3, 2019.

Rick Marshall
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
The best MCU fights, ranked
Thanos gets ready to battle in Avengers: Endgame.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe will launch its highly awaited Phase 5 with the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania on February 17. Nearly 15 years into its existence, the MCU is still on top of the world, even if it's not exactly as too big to fail as many people had thought. Yet, the sprawling franchise keeps winning, delivering more of the same fan-pleasing spectacle that made it a phenomenon in the first place with each new entry.

A large reason why the MCU is so successful is its larger-than-life action set pieces. Audiences go gaga seeing their favorite superheroes clashing with their favorite supervillains, making their comic book dreams come true. And while it's true that the MCU seldom experiments with its formula -- in fact, the franchise is notorious for actively resisting change -- it does try to change things up when it comes to the action department. From interstellar battles in dilapidated moons to multiverse-breaking sequences against multiple villains, these battles stand out as the most memorable and exciting in the MCU.
5. The helicarrier attack - The Avengers (2012)

Read more
Everything we know about Captain America: New World Order so far
Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson in Falcon and the Winter Soldier wields Captain America's Shield

Though Steve Rogers has now vanished from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios is currently in production of Captain America: New World Order. This upcoming blockbuster will serve as the fourth film in the Captain America franchise, as well as a sequel to the Disney+ miniseries The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. 
Little is known about the plot of this third sequel. Nevertheless, Disney recently shared some juicy details about the film at the company's D23 Expo, revealing characters old and new that will make appearances. Of course, it will be a long time before the film lands in theaters, but for now, here's a list of everything that has been revealed about Captain America: New World Order.

The film will focus on Sam Wilson

Read more
In honor of the Scarlet Witch, the MCU’s best character
Poster for Avengers: Infinity War showcasing Wanda Maximoff.

In more ways than one, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness marks the ending of Wanda Maximoff's MCU journey. First introduced in 2015's otherwise forgettable Avengers: Age of Ultron, Wanda is unique among MCU characters: flawed, inexperienced, highly traumatized, and holding far more power than anyone should. Throughout seven years, five movies, and one television miniseries, Wanda grew and evolved; she fell in love against all odds and grew into her own hero, only to lose the love of her life and the reputation she worked so hard to earn; she built a family, then saw it fade away as quickly as it arrived.

Wanda suffered more trauma, heartbreak, pain, loss, and damage than any other character in the otherwise cheery and safe MCU. Why the writers put her through hell and back remains unclear -- tragedy seems so ingrained in Wanda Maximoff's character that there might seem like there's no other way to develop her -- but she was strong enough to take it. And then, she wasn't. The MCU gave Wanda things they'd eventually take away, then raised its voice at her for complaining. And Wanda took it like a champ, but as one Jasmine Francis once said, "there's only so many traumas a person can withstand until they take to the streets and start screaming."

Read more