Did Secret Wars even need the Multiverse Saga? The Russo Brothers speak on their mentality in making their return to the MCU with Avengers: Doomsday.
The pressure is on for Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. The Multiverse Saga has become incredibly divisive when it comes to pop culture discussions about the MCU. Some fans see it as a bastion of creativity in a universe starting to become stale, while others see it as a crumbling facade trying to replicate Marvel’s glory days. And with the franchise’s highest grossing directors in The Russo Brothers back to helm the next two Avengers films, both sides are digging deeper into their trenches online.
But the question of connectivity in the Multiverse Saga remains at the top of mind. The MCU has been wildly disparate the past few years, with very little concrete crossovers between ongoing projects like in the days leading up to Avengers: Infinity War. This has led many to wonder if Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars might craft their own story outside of the confines of the Multiverse Saga. However, according to the Russo Brothers, that option was never on the table.
“Look, what you’re describing is like one of the most valuable aspects of the experience for us as fans and as storytellers,” Anthony Russo explained in a recent chat with The Playlist. “So, we lean into that in a strong way and we really feel like [the connective throughline is] one of the most unique things the MCU can do that other forms of cinematic storytelling can’t do.”
“Part of the reason why we became reactivated – like Joe was describing in terms of like falling in love with a story that we felt was powerful and needed to be told—is exactly what you’re describing is that there is a narrative through everything.”
“Even that portion of the narrative that has been unfolding since the end of [Avengers: Endgame]. We’re hopeful that we can pick up the story in a way that kind of honors what’s happened between now and then, but also moves it forward.”
Why Did The Russo Brothers Return To The MCU?
On the topic of the reactivation that The Russo Brothers mentioned above, it was clear that the director duo was content to step back from the MCU after Avengers: Endgame. However, they were suddenly tapped to return after Marvel made a harsh pivot from their original plans for the Multiverse Saga, leading to the newest incarnations of Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. Many believe that this was solely a monetary decision for the brothers. And while that is likely a factor, it seems as though there is a story they truly want to tell.
“So we’re exclusively focused on the storytelling right now,” Joe Russo explained. “And that’s the thing that brought us back— an idea for a story where we went, ‘That’s a really, really interesting story to tell.’ And now we’re just focused on executing that ide. Pressure and fear usually make for very poor decision-making. So hopefully we just stay calm and keep making the stories the way we like to see them.”
It’ll be interesting to see if The Russo Brothers can manage to turn the ship of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga around in the eyes of the public. With Avengers: Doomsday reportedly filming later this month and Secret Wars in Spring of next year, it won’t be long until details about the story they made their return for start finding their way online. Though if the concept art leaks are to believed, they may already have!
Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters in May 2026. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!
