Can Avengers: Doomsday and the Russo brothers save the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Marvel superhero films have recently struggled at the box office, but the Russo brothers’ return could help turn the tide
Before they were the most-trusted hands behind Marvel’s largest epics, American filmmakers Joe and Anthony Russo presided over a slightly less potent assemblage of talent: the Bluth family of Arrested Development.
Beginning with Arrested Development (14 episodes directed) and Community (34 episodes), the Russo brothers established an especially keen sense for the rhythms and intersections of ensemble casts.
“For whatever reason, Joe and I have always really been drawn to ensemble storytelling,” Anthony says. “Maybe it speaks to the fact that we work as a team.”
“We grew up in a very large Italian family full of colourful personalities,” Joe says, citing their Ohio upbringing. “It was complex family dynamics. We all grew up on the same street; people lived in different houses. We spent dinners together on Sundays.
“We were always interacting with a large amount of personality and interpersonal dynamics. I think that’s how we see the world and see stories.”