‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Movies Update: Russo Brothers will take over as Directors

By Cheri Cheng - 24 Mar '15 12:00PM

The rumors are true!

Joss Whedon, who directed "Avengers" and "Avengers: Age of Ultron," which opens in theaters on May 1, will not be back for the next two Avengers movies. Several media outlets are reporting that Joe and Anthony Russo have signed on as directors for the upcoming Disney-Marvel "Avengers: Infinity War" movies, which will be filmed back-to-back in 2016 and 2017.

The Russo brothers previously directed "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" and are directing "Captain America: Civil War," which will include Sony's Spider-Man. According to Badass Digest, which reported the story first, "Captain America: Civil War" will help set up the plotlines for "The Avengers: Infinity War" films. Therefore, attaching the Russos to these two projects will allow them "to bring their story all the way through to the end."

There are no writers currently attached to these two movies. Rumors are claiming that Marvel is in talks with Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who wrote the "Captain America" movies and "Thor: The Dark World" together. The writing duo also helped create TV series, "Agent Carter."

The directing duo will have four Marvel movies under their names, which is the most commitment Marvel has shown to a director, or in this case, a directing group. Whedon and Jon Favreau, who directed two of the "Iron Man" movies, have two Marvel movies each.

The Russo brothers are currently attached to Sony's "The Gray Man." The duo is also reportedly in talks to direct a "Ghostbusters" film. There is no word on whether or not Sony will try to get these projects done with the Russos first or wait until after they are finished with part one and part two of "The Avengers: Infinity War."

The Russos also signed a three-year contract in March with Sony. There is not word on how much work the Russos would be able to get in since filming "The Avengers" will most likely be very time consuming.

The brothers are represented by WME and Jackoway Tyerman.