Russo Brothers to direct next two “Avengers” movies

Joe and Anthony Russo will direct both parts of Disney-Marvel's “Avengers: Infinity War” with the movies shooting back-to-back in 2016 and 2017.

The brothers have directed “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and will direct the upcoming “Captain America: Civil War”.

The news had been widely rumored in recent weeks. The brothers are taking over the “Avengers” franchise from Joss Whedon, who directed 2012's “Avengers” and the upcoming “Avengers: Age of Ultron”, which opens May 1.

For the Russo brothers, this makes four Marvel films — the most Marvel has ever committed to with a single director. Whedon will have directed only two “Avenger” films, and Jon Favreau helmed only two “Iron Man” films.

The time commitment necessitated by the two “Avengers” films makes it seem unlikely that the Russos will be able to direct a film in between. The Russo brothers are currently attached to “The Gray Man” at Sony and are also in talks to direct a “Ghostbusters” film with Channing Tatum. Sony Pictures, where both films are set up, will now have to decide whether to wait for the two or figure out some way to get one of these projects done before “Avengers: Infinity War” starts prepping.

The Russos recently signed a three-year first-look feature deal with Sony Pictures -- that begins in April.

The siblings will next direct Disney-Marvel's “Captain America: Civil War.” That film will include Sony's new Spider-Man character as part of the new deal between Sony and Marvel.

Source: Variety