Marvel Says the Russo Brothers Are NOT Directing Avengers: Secret Wars

Marvel Studios President and Chief Creative Officer Kevin Feige debunked rumors concerning directors Joe and Anthony Russo and the upcoming titles Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars.

Marvel revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2022 that the Infinity Saga’s sequel, the Multiverse Saga, would similarly end with two Phase 6 Avengers movies. Although fans have speculated the Russo Brothers would return to the MCU for Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars, Feige confirmed, "They’re not connected to it... They've been very direct about that."

But while the Russos may not be attached to those particular films, they may still return to the MCU later on. Feige added he would like to "find something to do together" with the Russo Brothers due to their mutual interest, but it would have to be something other than the Phase Six Avengers movies.

The Russo Brothers previously expressed interest in adapting Secret Wars, with Joe Russo stating, "The one series that we adored growing up was Secret Wars. It’s incredibly ambitious -- it would be bigger than Infinity War and Endgame -- it’s a massive undertaking and those two movies were really very hard to make." He continued, "So trying to imagine making another two movies even bigger than those two, we’re gonna have to sleep on it."

The director quickly explained in a follow-up interview that their love for the classic Marvel comic story arc had nothing to do with their involvement in the project. Joe Russo confirmed they "haven’t had conversations" with Marvel Studio about "anything they’re up to," due to their conflicting schedules.

Secret Wars was a 12-issue limited series published between 1984 and 1985. The crossover series saw heroes and villains across the Marvel Universe face off in a place known as Battleworld. It was written by James Shooter, with artwork by Mike Zack and Bob Layton. A later 2015 version (written by Jonathan Hickman and illustrated by Esad Ribić) deals with the destruction of the Marvel universe and other alternative universes in Battleworld.

As for Kang, Phase 4 Disney+ series Loki seemingly introduced the next big bad in the MCU: the multiversal supervillain, Kang the Conquerer. Kang described the rise of his power and how his death would eventually lead to different versions of himself fighting against each other in a multiversal war, which is what the TVA and sacred timeline previously helped to prevent before both were fractured by Sylvie.