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

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.

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.