The Russo brothers may well continue their ongoing Marvel Studios collaboration through Secret Wars, a project that seems almost inevitable with the two filmmakers at the helm. The Russo brothers' early work was mainly in the world of comedy TV, working on shows such as Arrested Development and Community. However, they rose to mainstream fame upon directing Captain America: The Winter Soldier for Marvel Studios.
Since then, the Russos have gone on to direct that film's sequel and the two MCU behemoth movies Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. While their work on the Captain America movies is often heavily praised, with both The Winter Soldier and Civil War often being regarded in the upper echelon of MCU offerings, their work on Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame garnered them specific praise for the sheer scale of the productions. From the huge ensemble cast to the massive budgets, shooting schedules, and the Russos simply crafting an engaging, satisfying end to the MCU's first three phases, the Russos solidified themselves as two of Hollywood's best current blockbuster filmmakers.
One thing that has been heavily speculated, therefore, is a potential return to the director's chairs for the Russo's within the MCU. Often, when such a thing is brought up, the mention of an adaptation of Secret Wars as the MCU's next endgame isn't far behind, with the 1980s Marvel run and its 2015 spiritual successor often being named as the ideal project for a Russo brothers and Marvel Studios reunion. Given the MCU's Phase 4 (and likely Phase 5) dealing heavily with the multiverse, the discourse around a Marvel Studios Secret Wars production has been rife. Given the Russo's many comments on Secret Wars over the years, the way Marvel Studios have planted seeds for the story in Phase 4, and Kevin Feige's trust in the two directors, an MCU Secret Wars is seemingly inevitable.
How MCU Phase 4 Is Setting Up Secret Wars
Firstly, it is worth exploring how the MCU's Phase 4 has set up things from prior Marvel Comics issues that Marvel Studios could adapt - and the primary way Marvel Studios has done this is through the multiverse. With its origin in Loki, the multiverse then led into What if...?, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Through these installments, Marvel Studios has positioned Phase 4 of the MCU to have the multiverse as its overarching story point.
One thing Doctor Strange 2 introduced was the idea of incursions, a phenomenon that happens when two separate universes from the multiverse collide, with both being destroyed in the process. This concept is arguably the most extensive Secret Wars setup yet for the MCU when looking specifically at the 2015 version of the story. While the original Secret Wars didn't really involve incursions, despite the multiverse being involved, the MCU introducing multiversal incursions links directly to 2015 Secret Wars' initial setup, with the Earth-616 universe colliding with the Ultimate Marvel 1610 universe, creating an incursion and destroying both. While Doctor Strange 2 didn't offer up any direct links to the MCU's version of Secret Wars through character or plot points, laying the foundation of incursions will make the potential inclusion of such an issue in the MCU's adaptation much easier to understand for general audiences.
In addition, Loki introduced what is shaping up to be the next big villain of the MCU's multiverse arc: Kang the Conqueror. While the enemies of both Secret Wars issues involve characters such as the Beyonders and Doctor Doom, Kang the Conqueror could easily be substituted for these enemies, given his conquest of the multiverse being established in the MCU. Also, with a Fantastic Four project on the way from Marvel Studios, Mister Fantastic and Doctor Doom will likely both be introduced - and both characters play a huge part in the Marvel Comics Secret Wars storylines. This could mean that Kang and Doom are set up as the next big villains of the MCU, allowing Marvel Studios to do what they do best and incorporate elements of the comics (Doom) with original ideas (Kang in Secret Wars). Given Kang's link to Mister Fantastic in the comics, and the intense rivalry between the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom, this certainly would make sense for the MCU's adaptation.
What The Russos Have Said About Making Secret Wars
Naturally, with the Russos handling the two most recent Avengers films with apparent ease, the setups for Secret Wars have caused them to be the subject of many a question pondering their return to the MCU. Recently, the Russo brothers have commented on such speculation amid promotion for The Gray Man on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. Despite saying they want to make Secret Wars, the Russos insist no actual plans have been made:
"...You know, we haven’t had conversations with those guys about anything that they are up to... We just always answer truthfully when we’re asked, 'Would you work with them?' Of course we would. We adore them. 'What would you like to do?' Secret Wars was our favorite series growing up, you know? And then I think it always gets turned into a bigger story. But to be clear, there is no story."
Will The Russos Really Return For Secret Wars?
This begs the question, then, of whether the Russos will really return to the MCU for a potential Avengers 5/Secret Wars. Given their comments on the matter so far, it is safe to bet that the Russos will eventually end up working for Marvel Studios again. Considering they are on board for working with the studio and have stated they love the original Secret Wars comic and would like to tackle an adaptation, it is likely that eventually, the Russos will return to the franchise.
When Could The MCU's Secret Wars Movie Happen?
When such a return could happen, however, is up for debate. Given that Marvel Studios currently has the rest of 2022 and also all of 2023 mapped out, alongside a whopping 16 other projects without release dates that will likely take up most of 2024 and 2025, a Secret Wars may not happen until after then. This would certainly track with Marvel Studios' patience in building up to huge event-like movies, given the 11-year wait for Avengers: Endgame after Iron Man's release. With the Russos having a packed schedule themselves, while a Secret Wars film from the duo is certainly possible, audiences shouldn't expect it anytime in the near future.
