Thanks to some quality time with the colorful characters of Greendale Community College, Joe and Anthony Russo knew a thing or two about handling ensemble casts before setting off on their journey toward the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Those screenwriting skills shone through during The Winter Soldier, but it was really the advent of Captain America: Civil War that presented the Russo brothers with their most daunting challenge yet, which really makes the 2016 blockbuster all the more impressive given the quality of the end product.
Indeed, it’s small wonder why the Powers That Be over at Marvel have entrusted Joe and Anthony Russo with the future of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, starting with the release of Avengers: Infinity War in 2018. It comes packing narrative challenges of its own, however, as Anthony Russo revealed while speaking with The Independent (via CBM):
“There’s a writing adage that says ‘write yourself into a corner.’ My brother and I have always loved that adage,” said Russo in an interview with The Independent. “That was one of our favourite things about Civil War – that it ended in a difficult place where it’s hard to imagine what the road forward exactly is for both Tony Stark, Steve Rogers and these two sides that have suffered the consequences of this division. On a storytelling level, it is a very difficult place and yes, that is very much the condition of the world as we move forward after Civil War. This very much sets the stage for where Infinity War begins – it’s a place of a strong divide.”
United we stand, divided we fall was the tagline that accompanied Civil War earlier this year, and it’s a foregone conclusion that those fractures will still exist by the time Infinity War checks into theaters.
Avengers: Infinity War is slated for May 4, 2018. It’ll feature a handful of new cameos, but those hoping for any mutant characters to rear their head during Joe and Anthony Russo’s ensemble piece will be disappointed. Meanwhile, its sequel, previously titled Infinity War – Part 2, is set to get a new moniker, though there’s no development on that front as of yet.
