The Russos Were ‘Convinced’ They Would Never Return to Marvel

The Russo brothers were “convinced” they’d never return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In the first place, yours truly, Joe Russo, and my brother Anthony, are stepping back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe to direct “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars”. Initially, we hadn’t envisioned our return as we felt we had tackled enough challenges after wrapping up 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame”, which was our fourth film in the Marvel comic book realm. But it seems fate has other plans for us!

Joe Russo shared with RadioTimes.com: “To be honest, we were quite exhausted following the production of those last films. We completed four movies in just seven years, which was incredibly demanding. We were asked on multiple occasions, but each time we replied with a ‘no’.

Anthony Russo expressed: “Working on the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been incredibly rewarding for us. We had the opportunity to create a connected storyline across four films, with each installment building upon the last.

But the directors felt “compelled” to return after finding a new story to tell in the MCU.

Anthony expressed his eagerness to return as they’ve been absent for some time. He’s looking forward to resuming the storyline they left off, exploring fresh ways to advance it based on all that has happened since then.

We’ve found a solution to the problem, albeit a difficult one, and we believe it’s a game-changer. It’s so compelling that we’re eager to share another tale with you. Unfortunately, we can’t reveal many specifics just yet, but trust us, we’re thrilled about it.

Joe commented: “At last, just like Ant mentioned earlier, we discovered a tale that truly captivated our imagination. It was so compelling that we chose it over other stories we were developing. Now, we’re eager to get back to it.

And Anthony teased that fans won’t be disappointed.

He implied: “If you enjoyed our past projects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I believe there’s a lot to look forward to with what’s upcoming.

In the future, we can expect Robert Downey Jr., who once played Tony Stark/ Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) but was killed off in Avengers: Endgame, to rejoin the franchise as the antagonist Doctor Doom. The Russos have shared that he has been putting a lot of effort into crafting his new character.

To Entertainment Tonight, Joe Russo mentioned that creating the character is an extremely focused and deep experience. He’s deeply engrossed in it, and he’s incredibly dedicated to his role.

Anthony added: “That’s the kind of artist he is. That’s the kind of actor he is.”

Movies That Were Originally Supposed to Have Much Darker Endings

Alien

In the current storyline, the movie “Alien” doesn’t have a particularly cheerful conclusion, with most characters except Ripley and Jones the Cat meeting a gruesome fate. However, there was an alternate version of the story proposed by director Ridley Scott where things turned out quite differently. According to him, when Ripley shoots the alien into space, instead of it being destroyed, the alien would have burst through her helmet and decapitated her. Then, in a chilling mimicry, the creature would have imitated one of the crew members’ voices to send a false “all is well” captain’s log to Weyland-Yutani. Amazingly, Fox chose not to go with that darker version!

Army of Darkness

Fundamentally, the ‘Evil Dead’ film series revolves around director Sam Raimi subjecting Bruce Campbell and his fictional character, Ash Williams, to various trials for the entertainment of viewers. Despite Ash’s cockiness, a grotesque undead creature is usually lurking just beyond the next corner, ready to humble him. In ‘Evil Dead II’, Ash vanquishes the unholy evil in the woods, only to be flung back through time to the Middle Ages, where ‘Army of Darkness’ unfolds. This film almost concluded with a similar cliffhanger, as Ash once again bungled his return trip to the present. By mistake, Ash dozes off and misses all of human history, waking up in a post-apocalyptic future. This was a clever ending for the franchise, but Raimi eventually agreed to a more conventional happy ending at the request of Universal executives, albeit an ending that was so absurdly over-the-top it felt like a parody of forced happy endings. (Returning to his old retail job in the present, Ash bravely protects a beautiful woman from another Deadite monster.) Raimi is skilled enough to make the best out of challenging circumstances, but Ash should have remained trapped in the future, battling zombies indefinitely.

The Butterfly Effect

As a passionate film buff, I can’t help but appreciate the thought-provoking nature of movies that explore the concept of time travel and its impact on reality. Among these, “The Butterfly Effect” stands out for its daring exploration of various outcomes. The most striking of these endings, undeniably bold in today’s cinematic landscape, is the one where Ashton Kutcher’s character, Evan, resorts to an extreme measure to rectify the damage caused by his time-traveling actions. This involves going back into his mother’s womb and tragically taking his own life using the umbilical cord before he was born. It’s a heart-wrenching twist, and one that truly encapsulates the depth of sadness in alternative endings.

Clerks

Initially, when Kevin Smith premiered the movie “Clerks,” it ended abruptly in a startling, disheartening manner. Instead of moving on with his life after complaining all day about not belonging there, Dante (Brian O’Halloran) would close up the Quick Stop and be brutally murdered during a robbery. Smith explained that he chose this ending because it was unexpected and ironic, but also because he couldn’t think of any other way to conclude the story. Some of Smith’s friends who saw an early cut of the movie suggested that he shouldn’t release it with such an ending. Short on funds for reshoots, Smith deleted the robbery scene, leaving the film just before the violent finale was set to occur. Eventually, Smith sold “Clerks” to Miramax, which catapulted his career as a director. It makes one ponder: If Smith had ignored advice and kept the original ending, would “Clerks” still have become a cult classic?

Dawn of the Dead

George Romero’s “Dawn of the Dead” concludes with the two remaining human characters fleeing the mall they had lived in for several months, taking off in their helicopter. Initially, Romero had planned an alternate ending where these same characters would opt for suicide rather than face the zombie horde, one character even considering to place their head into the rotor of the copter, causing it to spin throughout the credits and eventually stop abruptly – symbolizing that any escape was impossible due to the helicopter’s low fuel. However, despite ending “Night of the Living Dead” on a similarly grim note, Romero opted for a more optimistic conclusion during the production of “Dawn of the Dead.

Eternals

In the film “Eternals”, the main characters, who were not the secret villain, prevented Earth’s destruction and saved humanity. Some members of the team then ventured into space, while others remained to protect the planet. Interestingly, this finale was added late in the production process. Originally, the Eternals were expected to face punishment from their ancient Celestial rulers for disobedience throughout the film. In the initial ending, a Celestial would have seized the Eternals, wiped their memories, and transported them to another planet to eventually birth a new Celestial, thus continuing an endless cycle these characters had unknowingly been part of since the beginning of time. However, Marvel opted for a more conventional heroic ending – although given recent developments, it seems they might as well have stuck with their original plan, as it’s uncertain if we’ll see the Eternals onscreen again in the future.

First Blood

In a different turn of events, the senseless spin-offs that followed often overshadow the truth that the original Rambo was an introspective character exploration of a Vietnam veteran, portrayed by Sylvester Stallone. This tormented man, subjected to mistreatment by a local sheriff (Brian Dennehy), eventually unleashes his fury across a portion of the Pacific Northwest. It’s only when his former commanding officer (Richard Crenna) confronts him that he finds solace and calms down, shedding tears upon seeing a familiar face and surrendering to the police. However, director Ted Kotcheff also filmed an alternate ending where Rambo chooses to take his own life instead of submitting to imprisonment, a conclusion that aligns more with John Rambo’s character and might have prevented the character from being the focus of four progressively implausible sequels. Though some of these sequels are engaging in their own right, they stray far from the tone and essence of the original Rambo film.

Get Out

The deafening applause and cheers that erupted in the cinema when Rod (Lil Rel Howery) arrived in a patrol car to save his friend Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) at the end of Get Out were among the most exhilarating I’ve ever experienced in a theater. Audiences adored the thrilling climax of Chris’ unexpected escape from the sinister Armitage family, which undeniably contributed to the blockbuster success of the film. While Peele’s original ending might have been more authentic and in line with his signature twist endings reminiscent of The Twilight Zone, it would have featured the police arriving just as Chris is about to choke Rose (Allison Williams) and then arresting him instead. Later on, Rod visits Chris in prison, where Chris assures him that he handled the situation himself. I’m delighted that Get Out became such a hit, elevating Peele to the elite tier of Hollywood directors. Although the updated finale is still excellent, I believe the original one had even more impact.

I Am Legend

In the cinematic finale of the film “I Am Legend,” which is adapted from another novel by Richard Matheson, the character Robert Neville, played by Will Smith, heroically perishes while protecting his manufactured cure for the virus that annihilated humanity. This ending, however, deviates significantly from Matheson’s initial concept. The director’s cut takes a contrasting approach, with Smith realizing that the creatures he’s been battling throughout the movie, known as “Darkseekers,” possess remnants of humanity. In this perspective, Neville himself transforms into the monster in this narrative. He releases the Darkseeker he had been experimenting on back to its group, and they depart peacefully without causing further harm. Afterward, Neville and the remaining human survivors journey north in search of any signs of civilization. While it doesn’t perfectly align with Matheson’s vision, it at least comes closer — and it undeniably offers a more unsettling conclusion.

Little Shop of Horrors

The most disheartening alternative ending in cinematic history, also one of the costliest deleted scenes ever produced, was reportedly made for $5 million from a total budget of $25 million for the movie. This original finale of Little Shop, inspired by the stage musical, depicted Audrey (Ellen Greene) and Seymour (Rick Moranis) being devoured by the monstrous Audrey II plant, which then wreaked havoc across Earth. The audience, alas, found the film enjoyable until Moranis forced Greene’s lifeless body into Audrey II’s mouth. Test-screening scores below 55 are considered poor; Little Shop apparently scored a paltry 13 due to its initial ending. With no other option, director Frank Oz and his team reworked the film’s final act for three weeks, altering the outcome so that Seymour rescues Audrey and defeats the villainous plant. Oz’s original finale not only maintained the dark humor of the rest of the movie, it showcased some truly impressive practical effects and puppetry, which were later discarded for decades but eventually included in the Little Shop of Horrors Blu-ray release.

National Lampoon’s Vacation

The original ending of “National Lampoon’s Vacation” was similar to the scene in the John Hughes script it was based on, where the film opens with the iconic line “If Dad hadn’t shot Walt Disney in the leg, it would have been our best vacation ever!”. However, director Harold Ramis found that ending a bit too soft and opted for a different one. In this revised version, the family successfully reaches Walley World and manages to force a security guard to let them into the closed park, allowing them to enjoy all the rides. This twisted yet joyful ending is a creative choice, but imagine if Chevy Chase’s character had actually lashed out at Walt Disney! That could have made for an intriguing alternative conclusion.

Pineapple Express

In a surprising turn of events, the light-hearted comedy “Pineapple Express” almost ended tragically with the violent, gory demise of its stoner protagonists Dale (played by Seth Rogen) and Saul (James Franco). Typically, audiences prefer uplifting endings, but this preference is even stronger in comedies. So it’s not surprising that instead of killing off its stars, “Pineapple Express” concludes with the heroes escaping their ordeal relatively unscathed. Had they been killed, it would have been a very unconventional way for this action spoof to conclude, adding a dark and twisted note to its finale.

Ronin

In this list, we find instances where film studios altered endings to present a more optimistic tone. For example, in the movie “Ronin”, United Artists required John Frankenheimer to abandon his preferred ending, which would have had Natascha McElhone’s character kidnapped and possibly killed by IRA members. Instead, her character disappears after Robert De Niro’s character, Sam, urges her to flee from the chaotic final gunfight scene. While the revised ending is acceptable — it avoids an overly sentimental goodbye kiss — the one Frankenheimer desired better reflected “Ronin”‘s gritty portrayal of international espionage.

Soul

Throughout the making of the movie “Soul”, Pixar was unsure about the appropriate ending. The film follows a skilled jazz musician who, after falling into a coma, finds his soul hovering near death. Should the musician’s spirit (voiced by Jamie Foxx) return to his physical body on Earth or should he fully transition to the afterlife? Although they eventually opted for a more traditional happy ending, they also produced versions with alternative conclusions, such as one where the musician dies. A children’s film in which the hero dies? That would have indeed been an intriguing decision.

The Suicide Squad

In a film named The Suicide Squad, one wouldn’t anticipate a light-hearted story. However, director James Gunn intended to plunge his DC team into even deeper darkness than viewers were prepared for. Initially, it was planned that some key members of the super(anti)hero squad would perish; Viola Davis’ character Amanda Waller was supposed to kill Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior) for her treachery, and then Bloodsport (Idris Elba) was intended to retaliate by shooting Waller. But in the end, Gunn and DC opted for a different outcome, resulting in Waller, Bloodsport, Ratcatcher, and Peacemaker all surviving the ordeal, ready for more battles. However, the end of the DCEU might mean we won’t see several of these characters again in future stories.

2025-03-14 17:57