Joe Russo has explained why Avengers: Doomsday began filming before its screenplay was fully finished, and he does not see the decision as unusual for the way he and Anthony Russo make movies.
Speaking with the Associated Press, Russo confirmed that production moved forward with an unfinished script after the movie went through a major rewrite. Doomsday began life as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, but Marvel changed direction after Jonathan Majors was removed from the franchise. Joe and Anthony Russo later came aboard to direct the rebuilt version of the movie.
Joe said he and Anthony treat a screenplay as something that can continue changing during production. He described them as directors who rely heavily on rehearsals and improvisation, rather than expecting every scene to be completely locked before filming starts.
“We always view the script as a living organism,” Joe said. He explained that they want to see what actors bring to their characters before deciding exactly how certain scenes should work. With a cast this large, some performers may only become available days or weeks before their scenes are filmed.
That approach also explains why an unfinished screenplay did not necessarily mean the production was operating without a plan. The Russos have spent much of their careers working with large groups of characters, first on television series such as Arrested Development and Community, then on Marvel films including Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
Anthony Russo said the brothers returned to Marvel after writer Stephen McFeely presented them with a new story idea that convinced them there was a reason to make another Avengers movie. That concept became part of the foundation for Doomsday after Marvel moved away from its original Kang-centered plans.
The size of the cast makes flexibility especially important. Avengers: Doomsday pulls together characters from several parts of the MCU, including the Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Wakandans and the New Avengers. Robert Downey Jr. is also returning to Marvel in a completely different role as Doctor Doom.
The Russos are now finishing post-production on Doomsday while beginning early preparation for Avengers: Secret Wars. Joe described the workload of making two Avengers movies back to back as enormous, although the brothers previously handled a similar schedule with Infinity War and Endgame.
They have also revealed an unexpected influence on the new film. Westerns played a part in how they approached its scale and quieter character moments, with Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in the West named as one of their inspirations.
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to arrive in theaters on December 18, 2026. Marvel has Avengers: Secret Wars set for December 17, 2027.
