The Russo Brothers Will Direct ‘Avengers: Infinity War’

UPDATE 4/7 — Marvel has finally confirmed that Joe and Anthony Russo have signed on to direct the two-part Avengers: Infinity War finale. Original article below.

Joss Whedon returned to make the sequel to The Avengers, but he also said that shooting Age of Ultron was “a nightmare,” and if it hasn’t officially been announced yet, it’s been pretty clear for a while that he would not return to direct the next Avengers saga, the two-part Infinity War in 2018 and 2019. The rumor for months had the Russo brothers, Joe and Anthony, replacing Whedon after their very successful stint directing Captain America: The Winter Soldier and next year’s sequel, Captain America: Civil War, which will also feature Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and lead directly into Infinity War. Now Badass Digest says the rumor is basically confirmed. Says site editor Devin Faraci:

So I’m on the phone with a source, talking about the Spider-Man casting rumor I just ran, when he says, ‘Oh s---. I just got an email. The Russos closed their deal to direct Infinity War.’

If true, the news would complete the Russos quick and surprising rise to the upper echelon of blockbuster filmmakers. Just a few years ago, these guys were mostly known as high-end sitcom guys (after getting their start in indie film with stuff like Welcome to Colinwood). They got the Winter Soldier gig and knocked it out of the park; they must have done a similarly stellar job on Civil War if Marvel’s ready to give them control of their biggest franchise next.

Badass Digest says the two Infinity Wars would shoot back-to-back in 2016 and 2017, and while no writers have been hired, Marvel is “in talks” with Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, co-writers of the Russos’ Captain Americas, along with Thor: The Dark World and the TV series Agent Carter. They’ll all have some Hulk-sized shoes to fill; if Whedon hadn’t nailed the first Avengers as well as he did, there’s a chance none of these movies get made. All the Russos have to live up to is one of the biggest and most successful movies of all time. No pressure!