- Are the Russo Brothers taking the Fantastic Four
into the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
With Avengers: Endgame becoming the biggest film
of all time this year and by extension,
catapulting directors Joe and Anthony Russo
to the biggest directors of all time,
sorry, James Cameron, the narrative arc
that they began all the way back in 2014's
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
was finally tied up this summer, effectively
ending the directing duo's tenure
with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
And while they've used the blank check they've earned
from their Marvel success to kickstart projects
like the indie film, Mosul, that they produced,
as well as tackle the upcoming
Magic the Gathering animated series for Netflix,
I'm excited about that, fans,
Marvel fans, in particular, have been wondering what's next
for the Russo's beyond that.
And whether they might come back to the House of Ideas
to direct another film.
Though, it appeared like they wanted to take a breather
on Marvel projects after April's mega release
of Avengers: Endgame, while promoting Mosul
at this year's Toronto International Film Festival,
the brothers gave Syfy Wire the lowdown
on the next project they'd want to work on for MCU.
And guess what?
It's Marvel's first family, the Fantastic Four.
- That's what I'm talkin' about!
- Pretty nice!
- Joe Russo put it this way.
"I grew on up John Bryne's X-Men run.
"Ben Grimm was a favorite character growing up, the Thing.
"And Fantastic Four is now in the Marvel fold.
"There's a lot.
"Silver Surfer is an amazing character.
"Going really big in cosmic would be a lot of fun.
"So there's a lot of things that could attract us."
Now, this isn't the first time we've heard him
make mention of the FF.
Back in May, Joe Russo talked to Business Insider
while on the press tour for Endgame and said,
"I love Ben Grimm from the Fantastic Four.
"Doctor Doom was always one of my favorite villains."
Great choices.
Big deal, you say?
He's just regurgitating his old talking points,
and it's just a big pipe dream, right?
Maybe, but maybe not.
And that time, it did feel like the Brothers Russo
were ready to take a little break
from making huge blockbusters.
"We love that level of filmmaking that Marvel afforded us.
"We love telling stories on that level,
"but we're also fed by smaller stories
"and more specific stories.
"So for us moving forward, it's moving back and forth
"between the two."
But now the Russo's seem to be swinging back
towards the Marvel side of storytelling
by reiterating their desire to work with the Fantastic Four
and telling Syfy Wire, "I think after you go
"on the journey that we went on,
"an overarching story from Winter Soldier,
"all the way to the end of Endgame,
"I think that scale of ambition in storytelling
"is a bug that's bit us.
"And we're compelled to tell more stories
"on that scale, with that sort
"of years-long ambition to them."
Yeah, that definitely sounds to us
like their vacation from blockbusters
is gonna be short-lived.
So when could this happen?
Well, not in the immediate future
with Phase 4 pretty much lined up through 2021,
and with Kevin Feige hinting that the Fantastic Four
for Phase 5, we probably won't see their names
in the Marvel marquee until at least 2022.
We know that Marvel definitely has plans for the FF,
and in fact, there have been rumors
that Kevin Feige has met with Legion creator,
Noah Hawley, about his Doctor Doom script
that he was working on for Fox
before the Disney acquisition.
Plus, the Russo's and Marvel
obviously have a great working relationship.
Joe Russo said, "I mean, look, working with Kevin Feige
"and Louis D'Esposito and Victoria Alonzo
"has been the most rewarding collaboration we've had
"in our entire career.
"They're like family to us now.
"We're all very, very close to one another,
"and we miss each other.
"So I'm sure we'll find something
"that we can do together soon."
Aw, so it's no stretch to imagine
if the directors of Marvel's biggest films
wanted to come back to direct the FF,
then Kevin Feige and company would probably,
maybe,
let's be honest, 100% be open to it.
- That's what I'm talking about!
- Pretty nice!
- And if the Russo's do want
to tell a multi-year ambitious story,
the Fantastic Four are the perfect superhero group for that
because not only do they need to be introduced
into the MCU, but them having such high grade villains
and memorable characters like Doctor Doom,
Silver Surfer, and Galactus gives the directing duo
enough fodder for years of storytelling.
That would be awesome.
They could even use the Fantastic Four
to help setup another comics adaptation
they've expressed interest in in the past.
1984's Secret Wars.
You know, the one where the Beyonder
brings all of Marvel's heroes and villains
to Battle World to duke it out in a battle royale!
If anything, that one makes more sense
to have a Fortnite tie-in than the Thanos one did
for Infinity War. (upbeat hip hop music)
Though, I'm an Apex Legends girl,
so maybe they do that (laughs).
Sorry, obviously, we won't get confirmation
of any of this from the tight-lipped Marvel Studios
anytime soon, but we are certain that if the Russo Brothers
wanted to return to Marvel, the door would be open to them.
But what do you folks think?
Do you think the Russo's could return
to direct the Fantastic Four?
Should Doctor Doom or Galactus be the next big bad
of the MCU?
I'm votin' for Doctor Doom.
And what is your ultimate Fantastic Four fan-casting.
Ours is Emily Blunt and John Krasinski
as Invisible Woman and Mr. Fantastic, respectively.
- That's what I'm talkin' about!
- Pretty nice!
- Good choices, right?
Let's discuss!
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