The Russos reveal what was hardest about Avengers: Doomsday

“The bond that people have with these heroes is very complex…”, deciphers Anthony Russo a few months before the film’s release in theaters.

How can the Avengers evolve without affecting what makes them identity?

This is one of the main puzzles that gave headaches to Anthony and Joe Russo, back behind the camera for Avengers: Doomsday.

And Anthony Russo explains why it is very complicated to work with characters so anchored in pop culture. During a question-and-answer session organized after a screening ofAvengers: Endgame Extended (via GamesRadar), the director revealed that the trickiest part was finding a balance between moving the story forward and respecting characters who have become cult figures:

“It’s a very delicate step in the process because, ultimately, we have to rely on our own feelings: we love these characters, we love their story, we love them just as much as many fans do. But we always like to remember one thing: the fan community does not speak with one voice. Opinions vary greatly as to which characters each person identifies with or which versions of these characters they prefer; the bond that people have with these heroes is very complex…“

The Russo brothers therefore seek to respect the path traveled by their hero while avoiding simply reproducing what has already been done:

“We have enormous respect for the narrative journey these characters have taken so far. It’s a big part of their magic. But at the same time, we must surprise ourselves about what they are, what they can become, what they can do and what can happen to them. And, by doing this, we hope that we will manage to surprise the public as well.”

This reflection comes at a time when Avengers: Doomsday must notably offer a new version of Thor, still played by Chris Hemsworth. The first trailer revealed a much more serious God of Thunder than in Thor: Love and Thunderdirected by Taika Waititi in 2022. A film which had worked well at the box office but whose humor had divided spectators, Hemsworth himself having admitted that his character had become “too stupid”.

And there could still be many surprises. Anthony Russo reveals that the full cast of Doomsday has not yet been announced:

“The cast is so vast. We announced some actors and not others. I myself am getting lost between those we have announced and those we have not yet announced, so I have to calm down so as not to make a fuss…“

Avengers: Doomsday will be released in cinemas in France on December 16, 2026.