Russo Brothers Reveal How They Picked ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Fights

Few filmmakers understand the thrill of a superhero showdown quite like Joe and Anthony Russo. The directing duo behind ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’ are back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, which hits theaters on December 18.

The stakes could hardly be higher. In the film, heroes from 3 distinct universes are set on a deadly collision course as they face an existential threat unlike anything they have encountered, with Robert Downey Jr. returning to the franchise as the villainous Victor von Doom.

While promoting ‘Avengers: Endgame – Encore’ in a conversation with Fandango, the brothers opened up about how they decide which characters should clash on screen. Joe Russo explained that choosing those matchups is part of the fun, comparing the process to kids playing with toys.

He revealed that the team literally pulls out toys when brainstorming these sequences. From there, they ask which characters would be most compelling to see fight, what would be the most fun to watch, and what fans would want to see.

Russo added that the film is made by a group of comic book nerds who are excited to bring these moments to life for audiences. That playful spirit seems especially fitting given that Marvel has even released a LEGO trailer for the movie.

Joe Russo, when asked how they chose the fight sequences between characters in ‘AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY’: “That’s part of the fun. I mean, we’re like kids with toys. When we start thinking about sequences like that, we literally have toys and go. Wow, who would it be? Who who’s most compelling to fight who? What would be the most fun to watch? What do we want to see? What do the fans want to see? And so, it’s a lot of comic book nerds who all work on the movie together just excited about trying to find a way to bring these things to life for the audience.” (via: @Fandango)
— MCU Film News (@MCUFilmNews) October 20, 2026

One matchup has already gotten fans talking. The trailer teased a fight between Channing Tatum’s Gambit and Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi, and Anthony Russo called Tatum’s take on the Cajun mutant a real treat.

The brothers also expressed their excitement about working with the X-Men actors. Joe noted that they were once fans attending midnight screenings when ‘X-Men’ arrived 25 years ago, making the chance to collaborate with that cast feel like a dream come true.

The cast for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is enormous. Chris Evans returns as Steve Rogers, and Chris Hemsworth is back as Thor, who returns to the warrior mindset last seen in ‘Infinity War’.

They are joined by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the Fantastic Four, along with Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, Paul Rudd, Sebastian Stan, Tom Hiddleston and Letitia Wright. X-Men icons Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart and James Marsden also appear, alongside Tatum’s Gambit and Tenoch Huerta’s Namor.

With so many characters from different corners of the multiverse, the possibilities for unexpected showdowns are nearly endless. That makes the Russos’ toy-box approach feel less like a gimmick and more like a necessity.

New trailer for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ In theaters December 18 https://t.co/1wsiTk1Nnv
— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) August 15, 2026

‘Avengers: Doomsday’ was filmed from April to September 2025 and serves as the first half of a 2-part story. Its sequel, ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’, is scheduled to arrive on December 17, 2027.

The Russos have made it clear they want this new saga to stand alongside their earlier blockbusters. Previously, they have said the story needed to have the potential to match ‘Infinity War’ and ‘Endgame’ for them to return.

The 4 previous ‘Avengers’ films have earned more than $7.7 billion at the box office, setting a high bar for the upcoming chapter. Tickets are already on sale, including showings in Marvel’s new INFINITY VISION premium format.

New promo for ‘AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY’ Featuring the New Avengers Tower. https://t.co/BhdclQ9PQZ
— Kalshi Film (@Kalshi_Film) October 18, 2026

Between Doctor Doom’s arrival and a lineup packed with heroes from multiple universes, anticipation for the film keeps growing. If the Russos’ playful process is any indication, audiences can expect plenty of crowd-pleasing clashes when ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ arrives this December.