Joe and Anthony Russo have expressed interest in someday returning to the MCU, but that won't be to direct phase 6’s Secret Wars, inevitably disappointing those who saw the Infinity War/Endgame double-header as a high-point of the MCU.
Even with their openness to return to the MCU, the directors have moved on. Post-MCU, the Russo brothers shifted focus to their production company AGBO (also called Gozie AGBO), under which they have released several successful projects like 21 Bridges, Extraction and Everything Everywhere All At Once. The Russo’s most recent AGBO release for Netflix, The Gray Man, is an adaptation of the first of twelve books in Mark Greaney’s “The Gray Man” series. If that franchise kicks off as it could, there's no guarantee they have space on their docket for another huge Avengers movie so soon.
At yesterday’s Diego Comic-Con, Marvel President Kevin Feige announced phases 4, 5, and 6 of the MCU will now be referred to as the “Multiverse Saga,” and will end with two new Avengers movies: Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. After the phenomenal success of the Russo’s phase 3-ending Infinity War and Endgame, it would make sense that they'd be the go-to team to direct. But even though Joe Russo has mentioned “Secret Wars” was the Russo’s favorite comic book growing up, the Russos not returning is a good thing for Secret Wars and the MCU. For a start, the turnover to a 2025 release would be too harsh and would compromise the movie's potential.
Why The Russo Brothers Shouldn't Direct Avengers: Secret Wars
While The Russos would like to be involved with Avengers: Secret Wars, many – themselves included – feel as though they shouldn’t because they would be spreading themselves too thin. Joe Russo recently shared the brothers now “have three or four projects lined up. [Our return] would have to be a time and place thing, but we’re talking years out,” (via Netflix’s recent loss of subscribers. Depending on its success, it’s likely Netflix will green-light more adaptations, allowing the Russos to pioneer a large and long-lasting franchise of their very own.
Not only do the Russos lack the time they would need to dedicate to the MCU if they were to return, a plethora of new characters and storylines have been introduced to the franchise since their hit Avengers: Endgame. Stepping back in for an epic finale with no expected involvement in the “Multiverse Saga” could lead to potential disconnects and result in Avengers: Secret Wars not garnering the same reception by fans as the Russos’ previous Marvel works. Marvel President Kevin Feige himself has shared he would like to work together with the brothers again, but not on the Avengers movies (via Deadline Hollywood).
Joe and Anthony Russo returning to the MCU isn’t completely off the table, but timing and prior engagements will likely prevent them from returning to direct Avengers: Secret Wars. However, they still get to scratch that Marvel itch, often collaborating with Marvel actors like Tom Holland, Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth on non-MCU projects. There are also plenty of new and AGBO projects to satiate fans of the brothers’ work.
