Anthony Russo Initially Turned Down ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’

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Anthony Russo initially turned down the idea of directing Avengers: Secret Wars.

As a passionate cinema enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that the mastermind behind some of Marvel’s biggest hits, Anthony Russo, is coming back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe alongside his directing brother Joe Russo and screenwriter Steven McFeely for the highly anticipated films, Avengers: Doomsday and its sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars. Interestingly, it seems that Joe initially wasn’t enthused about Anthony spearheading the sequel to this upcoming blockbuster.

Joe shared with Empire Magazine: “We had concepts we were considering before this one, but we couldn’t quite find the right narrative for them.

I recall discussing an intriguing notion with Steve, suggesting, “Hey, this might be fun. How about we revisit ‘Secret Wars‘ together?

Anthony responded with a firm refusal, saying something along the lines of ‘Not a chance.’ After that, you ended the call. The following morning at 7:30, you phoned back and proposed, ‘I’ve got an idea now.’

Anthony added he and Joe “stumbled upon an idea” that got the wheels turning on Secret Wars.

He shared that by sheer chance, we discovered an idea that sparked everyone’s interest… It wasn’t something you could predict beforehand, but when it emerged, it was as if we had found a tale worth sharing.

The pair of directors embarked on their Marvel Cinematic Universe adventure in 2014 with “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” then steered its successor “Captain America: Civil War” and “Avengers: Infinity War.” They parted ways with the franchise after “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019, and they’ve no plans to rejoin for upcoming projects within the series.

Anthony Russo stated that after wrapping up ‘Endgame’, it took some period for them to consider it as anything but an ending.

The filmmaking duo continued communicating with the president of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige, as well as the franchise’s executive producer, Louis D’Esposito, exploring numerous concepts for possible movies.

Anthony Russo went on to say, “We’ve been closely connected with Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, and the whole Marvel crew, and over time, we’ve exchanged many thoughts and brainstormed numerous concepts.

In “Avengers: Doomsday,” Robert Downey Jr., who played Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe until his character’s heroic demise in “Endgame,” will make a return, this time as the ominous Doctor Doom. The new Avengers find themselves in a battle to prevent this villain from carrying out his wicked schemes.

Previously confirmed, Anthony Mackie’s Captain America, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four team featuring Reed Richards (played by Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) will all be back for the upcoming film titled “Doomsday“.

There have been whispers that Chris Evans, who once played Captain America, and Ana de Armas might have been cast in the upcoming 2026 blockbuster. However, details about the roles they might play in the movie remain unclear at this time.

The Best Marvel Movies Not Made By Marvel Studios

15. Deadpool 2 (2018)

In the second “Deadpool” movie, Ryan Reynolds’ character Wade Wilson experienced an unexpectedly heartfelt storyline, surpassing the first film. The casting of Josh Brolin as Cable was spot-on, providing a solid counterpart to Deadpool’s constant chatter. The introduction of X-Force is one of the longest and funniest running jokes on this list. (It’s best to watch the original R-rated version; the PG-13 version offers a different kind of humor.)

14. Captain America (1944)

For approximately 40 years, only Captain America from Marvel Comics was brought to life on the big screen, with his debut being a surprisingly well-received serial in 1944. Interestingly, this early portrayal of Captain America wasn’t Steve Rogers but rather Grant Gardner, a dedicated district attorney. His origins tied to Super-Soldier Serum and the use of an indestructible shield were not depicted, and instead, Cap faced off against “The Scarab,” a typical villain from the 1940s on a quest for high-tech artifacts known as MacGuffins. The first of these was a “thermodynamic vibration engine” capable of causing skyscrapers to crumble – or as the characters frequently referred to it, a vibrator. Yes, you read that correctly. (For more details, click here.)

13. Spider-Man 3 (2007)

In a refreshing reevaluation, Sam Raimi’s final Spider-Man film has often been unjustifiably criticized, even by Raimi himself who once stated it was not successful. While it’s true that some aspects of the movie stumble, there are numerous strengths to appreciate, such as several action sequences from the Maguire trilogy that stand out, like the gripping mid-air rescue of Gwen Stacy from a construction accident. The primary point of contention for many viewers is the portrayal of Venom, particularly Raimi’s use of the black suit as an extended joke, which includes a notorious scene where an “evil” Peter under the influence of his alien costume dances through New York City streets. Admittedly, these moments seem outdated when considering the trend towards grim and gritty superheroes during that era. However, if you view Spider-Man 3 as Raimi intentionally satirizing the concept of a “dark” comic book movie, the overall experience becomes much more coherent.

12. X-Men (2000)

Indeed, the reference to toads and lightning is quite jarring. The vintage black leather costumes make the movie seem extremely old-fashioned. Hugh Jackman appeared less muscular in earlier X-Men movies; his portrayal of Logan in later sequels seems almost feeble by comparison. However, there’s a reason the first X-Men film played a significant role in igniting the superhero movie craze of the 2000s. It successfully captured the essence of the characters and translated them onto the screen with a keen editor’s eye, removing unnecessary elements to focus on the fundamental aspects that would appeal to a wide audience. Incidentally, Hugh Jackman, who gained international fame portraying Wolverine, was nearly denied his breakthrough role. He was the filmmakers’ second choice, and only secured the part after the original Logan, Dougray Scott, had to withdraw due to Mission: Impossible II not completing production on schedule.

11. The Punisher (1989)

In my opinion, the cinematic portrayal of Frank Castle resembles a stealthy sewer-dwelling turtle ninja, engaging in underwater skirmishes with scuba-clad adversaries. His dialogue echoes the gruff growls reminiscent of Dolph Lundgren. The action unfolds in an antiquated amusement park where Frank clashes with the Yakuza, a scene featuring dozens of enemies careening down a giant slide, blasting away as they go. A particularly noteworthy moment involves Frank detonating a mobster’s residence, causing a journalist to exclaim, “Good heavens, it’s the Punisher!” All in all, this film is undeniably the most exhilarating take on the Punisher character I’ve ever seen.

10. Big Hero 6 (2014)

In the heart of thrilling science fiction sequences, the movie “Big Hero 6” seamlessly combines Disney and Marvel elements. While the Disney aspects shine brighter, the story becomes quite complex as it revolves around a villain who steals a teen prodigy’s microbots technology. This complexity often overshadows the heartfelt elements about coping with grief and loss. However, science has shown that soft-hearted robots like Baymax (voiced by Scott Adsit) are the most endearing of all.

Amidst action-packed sci-fi scenes, “Big Hero 6” is a unique mix of Disney and Marvel influences. Although the Disney elements are more prominent, the plot becomes intricate due to a villain stealing a young genius’ microbots technology, which sometimes overshadows the poignant themes of dealing with grief and loss. Nevertheless, science has demonstrated that compassionate robots such as Baymax (voiced by Scott Adsit) are the most beloved.

9. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

In a remarkable blend of veteran and contemporary X-Men actors, this film showcases Hugh Jackman delivering another strong portrayal as its anchor. The latest additions to the team, like Blink whose abilities are cleverly utilized, add excitement. Evan Peters’ Quicksilver steals the show yet again with his super-speed, saving Wolverine, Magneto, and Professor X during a Pentagon firefight. However, the film has one significant flaw: it rewrites much of the “First Class” storyline in an unusual way. Key characters are said to have perished off-screen, the school is suddenly defunct, and even Professor X’s paralysis is miraculously healed, at least temporarily.

8. Blade (1998)

Way back when many in Hollywood were still skeptical about Marvel’s narrative prowess, Wesley Snipes had already hopped on board. “Portraying a comic-book character is the best of all worlds because anything can be done,” Snipes quipped humorously during an interview as Blade. “You develop a unique voice, appearance, sound, and mannerisms.” Wesley Snipes’ _Blade_ served as the precursor to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, laying the groundwork for a connected universe of humans and monsters.

7. X2 (2003)

In a more casual and engaging style,

X2 might just be the defining superhero film of this century. The first X-Men and Spider-Man films showed that movies could capture the magic of comics. But X2 took it a step further, demonstrating that films could surpass them. Scenes like Nightcrawler’s White House siege were particularly impressive because they not only replicated his signature teleporting ability but made it look sleeker and more dynamic than it ever could in static comic book panels. The dam bursting at the end of the movie is like the floodgates opening, marking the beginning of the Hollywood Superhero Boom. After X2, nothing was quite the same.

6. Logan (2017)

The third attempt proved successful for Jackman in standalone Wolverine films. In “Logan”, the title character was finally presented in all his brutal, sorrowful splendor, marking the first R-rated film which allowed for a more somber and intense journey, fitting for the story of a hero approaching his end. Additionally, this rating helped alleviate the overcrowding issue often seen in main “X-Men” movies by focusing on only a handful of crucial characters, such as an exceptional Patrick Stewart portraying an aging Professor X struggling with mental deterioration and thus losing control over one of the world’s most potent weapons.

5. Blade II (2002)

In “Blade II,” Wesley Snipes’ agile portrayal of the stylish vampire slayer Blade intertwined brilliantly with Guillermo del Toro’s dark, grisly horror style, resulting in a sequel that was even more thrilling and terrifying than the original. Del Toro introduced a chilling new breed of super vampires, ominously spawned from a pandemic, which featured elongating jaws and fed on both humans and vampires. Only Blade’s tenacious martial arts skills could stand against these creatures (vampires, as you might remember, have four recognized weaknesses: silver, garlic, sunlight, and spin kicks).

4. Spider-Man (2002)

With several Spider-Man films hitting theaters nearly annually, it’s easy to overlook just how exceptional Sam Raimi’s first Spider-Man film was. Despite appearing somewhat dated today, this movie was revolutionary for 2002, pushing the boundaries of what was possible in a superhero film. It nailed every aspect: The costume design, the action sequences, the special effects, the poignant portrayal of Uncle Ben’s demise, and the intricate relationships between Peter Parker, Norman Osborn, and Harry Osborn. This movie reshaped mainstream perceptions of superhero films, paving the way for today’s cinematic universes. Notably, many subsequent superhero movies have mimicked its iconic final shot, where Spider-Man swings through New York City in a single, breathtaking take.

3. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

In the expansive continuation of “Into the Spider-Verse,” this daring sequel introduces Miles Morales to Spider-Man 2099 and his “Spider Society,” who are on a mission to safeguard the multiverse from threats like Spot, a formidable new villain capable of opening interdimensional gates at will. While “Into the Spider-Verse” was visually stunning, “Across the Spider-Verse” promises an even more impressive and bold presentation. (The dimension inhabited by Spider-Gwen resembles a vibrant watercolor painting coming to life; Spider-Man India originates from “Mumbattan,” a swirling blend of yellows and greens.) However, the one potential drawback of “Across the Spider-Verse”? It’s the first half of a two-part story, and at times it feels like it.

2. Spider-Man 2 (2004)

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my admiration for Sam Raimi’s masterful work in Spider-Man 2. Unlike other films that cram origin stories and separate adventures into one, this movie transformed into a captivating narrative about Peter Parker’s complex relationship with the brilliant scientist, Doctor Otto Octavius, played exceptionally well by Alfred Molina, arguably delivering the finest performance in the entire Spider-Man series. More than 15 years have passed, yet the film’s visual appeal remains impressive, particularly the iconic elevated train sequence that continues to shine among Marvel’s best across companies and franchises. The way the movie relentlessly (almost cruelly!) heaps misfortune upon poor Peter Parker only intensifies the joy of its ultimately happy (though tinged with bittersweetness) ending.

1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

In a world where quantity often fails to match quality, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” stands out as an exceptional Marvel film, being not only the epitome of Spider-Man movies but also the finest Marvel-based production. This movie boasts a vast ensemble of web-slinging characters such as Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, and Peter B. Parker. Furthermore, it powerfully embodies the moral philosophy of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, emphasizing their concept that everyone has the potential to be a hero, transforming this idea into a vibrant, animated tribute to their noble ideals. Indeed, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is a testament to the ultimate Spider-man tale.

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2025-01-15 17:25