Joe Russo Says ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Will Be Unlike Anything Marvel Has Made Before
When Marvel’s biggest crossover events arrive, fans usually know what to expect: massive battles, crowd-pleasing team-ups, and a healthy dose of quips. But according to one of its directors, ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is gearing up to break that mold in ways audiences might not see coming.
Joe and Anthony Russo, the brothers behind ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’, ‘Captain America: Civil War’, ‘Avengers: Infinity War’, and ‘Avengers: Endgame’, are back to steer the franchise’s next chapter. Their return, along with Robert Downey Jr.’s casting as the new villain Doctor Doom, was announced in July 2024, and the film has been building hype ever since.
Now, during a September 25 appearance on ‘Good Morning America’, Joe Russo made a bold claim about the upcoming film. He described ‘Doomsday’ as unlike any movie that’s been made in the MCU so far.
“It’s tonally very different. It’s very surprising. I think the audience is going to be very surprised when they see the movie,” Russo said on ‘Good Morning America’. The brothers used the segment to discuss their decision to return and preview what fans can expect, while carefully avoiding major plot spoilers.
This isn’t the first time the Russos have hinted at a darker direction. Speaking at San Diego Comic-Con, Joe explained that Doom’s personality dictates the movie’s tone, describing it as aggressive and calling the villain so formidable, intelligent, and powerful that the heroes will have an extremely difficult time stopping him.
Earlier this year, the brothers also told Empire that the story demanded a different approach from their previous Avengers films. Anthony explained that while they embrace the fun of these movies, they also lean into the narrative complexity, suggesting they reached a new level of that in ‘Doomsday’.
In another conversation with CBR, Joe called the film the most emotionally complex and, in many ways, the most mature of all their Marvel projects. He admitted it was harder to make than the others, but believes emotional depth creates a fuller experience for audiences.
New trailer for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
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The Russos’ unconventional approach has extended to the production itself. The film was originally planned as ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’ before Marvel pivoted, and shooting began without a finished script.
Joe told AP that the brothers treat a script as a living organism, describing themselves as improvisation-based, rehearsal-based directors who want to see what actors bring to their characters. Filming took place from April to September 2025 at Pinewood Studios in England, with additional location shoots in England and Bahrain.
The pressure on ‘Doomsday’ is considerable. After some recent stumbles, including ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ landing a B- CinemaScore, many see the film as Marvel’s chance to reinvigorate the franchise.
The Russos have acknowledged that challenge, noting that their job isn’t to answer for the entire MCU but to focus on the specific way their story intersects with it. With heroes from 3 distinct universes set on a collision course, including the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the original X-Men, there’s plenty riding on their vision.
Fans can get a taste of what’s coming with ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’, now in theaters with new footage bridging the gap to the next chapter. ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ arrives on December 18, followed by ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ on December 17, 2027.
Are you excited for the different tone Joe Russo is promising for Avengers: Doomsday?
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