Moviefone Editorial

Tag: joe and anthony russo

  • James Cameron Congratulates ‘Avengers: Endgame’ After it Beats ‘Avatar’ Box Office Record

    James Cameron Congratulates ‘Avengers: Endgame’ After it Beats ‘Avatar’ Box Office Record

    Marvel Studios

    After close to a decade of untouchable box office dominance, “Avatar” has finally given up its crown as the biggest box office earner of all time. And now, its director is heaping praise on the film’s successor.

    After a re-release that helped it squeak past “Avatar”‘s previous world record of $2.789 billion, “Avengers: Endgame” officially became the biggest movie ever over the weekend, earning a staggering $2.791 billion. As he did with other records of his that “Endgame” had previously broken, “Avatar” mastermind James Cameron acknowledged the feat in a social media post.

    Addressing the folks at Marvel Studios with a Na’vi greeting, Cameron shared an image of Iron Man covered in wood sprites from Pandora.

    “I see you Marvel,” the director wrote. “Congratulations to Avengers Endgame on becoming the new box-office king.”

    “Endgame” directors Joe Russo and Anthony Russo took to Instagram to praise Cameron right back, sharing several images of themselves in silhouette, marveling over Cameron’s previous films.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B0ON0AOlD1b/?utm_source=ig_embed

    Addressing Cameron directly, the Russo brothers called him “a monumental reason why we fell in love with film in the first place,” and thanked the filmmaker for “inspiring us and opening the world’s eyes to what’s possible.” The duo closed out their message by saying, “We can’t wait to see where you take us next…”

    That would be back to Pandora, with Cameron currently working on four planned “Avatar” sequels, which have been in various stages of development — but finally seem to be moving along — for ages. If all goes according to plan, the first follow-up will hit theaters at the end of 2021.

    With so much additional content to come from both Marvel and Cameron, we have a feeling that the filmmakers may be trading records for the foreseeable future.

  • ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Directors Explain Why Not Using Fox Characters Worked Out

    ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Directors Explain Why Not Using Fox Characters Worked Out

    Avengers: Infinity War
    Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

    The box office success of “Avengers: Endgame” continues, with the film on top for a third straight week. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo have done their job, but they’re still answering questions fans want the answers to.

    The brothers recently spoke to Business Insider and were faced with an interesting hypothetical about whether or not there were any Fox characters they wish they could have used. “Endgame” was produced prior to Disney’s acquisition of key Fox assets, including the rights to Marvel superhero properties such as X-Men and Deadpool. It turns out, though, the Russos feel good about the timing.

    “We love all the Fox characters, but there were so many characters in this film,” Joe said. “I don’t know if we could have handled adding any more characters, especially characters that weren’t developed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”

    That seems reasonable. There were already a lot of loose ends to tie up — so many that the film’s run time stretched to three hours. We can’t imagine what a challenge it would have been for the Russos to add in even more.

    Although Joe wasn’t disappointed by the lack of Marvel superheroes from Fox in “Endgame,” he added that he’d “love to [use them] in the future.” His comment comes after the Anthony told GamesRadar in March that they “don’t have any plans for now to make any more Marvel movies” but left the door open for future projects. They two directors are apparently on the same page when it comes to returning for more MCU fun.

    For now, the Russos won’t be working with any Marvel characters, from former Fox properties or otherwise. They’ll next direct the dark drama “Cherry” starring the MCU’s Tom Holland.

    [via: Business Insider]

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  • ’21 Bridges’ Trailer Takes Chadwick Boseman’s Cop on a Manhunt

    ’21 Bridges’ Trailer Takes Chadwick Boseman’s Cop on a Manhunt

    STX Entertainment

    It’s an “Avengers: Endgame” reunion for Chadwick Boseman and Anthony and Joe Russo in “21 Bridges.”

    The Russo brothers serve as producers on this crime thriller, directed by Brian Kirk. The first trailer introduces Boseman as an NYPD detective who is thrust into a citywide manhunt for a pair of cop killers after uncovering a massive and unexpected conspiracy.

    Determined to catch the killers, Boseman goes to extreme lengths, including shutting down bridges and closing tunnels — basically locking the whole city of Manhattan down.

    Over the course of the night, lines become blurred on who he is pursuing — and who is in pursuit of him.

    The movie also stars Sienna Miller, Stephan James, Keith David, Taylor Kitsch and J.K. Simmons.

    Boseman has quite a full plate after “Endgame,” including Spike Lee’s Netflix join “Da 5 Bloods.” And we fully expect a sequel to “Black Panther” at some point.

    “21 Bridges” opens in theaters July 12.

  • ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Directors Again Ask Fans Not to Spoil the Movie

    ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Directors Again Ask Fans Not to Spoil the Movie

    Walt Disney Studios

    The countdown is on to the release of the final chapter in the “Avengers” saga, “Avengers: Endgame,” and unfortunately, that means that some spoilers have already started leaking from the film. But the movie’s directors are now pleading directly with fans to help keep the flick’s secrets, and not ruin anything for others.

    In a heartfelt open letter shared on social media on Tuesday, the Russo Brothers — a.k.a. co-directors Joe Russo and Anthony Russo — did not address any of the leaks directly. But, like they did before the release of last year’s “Infinity War,” they instead appealed directly to fans’ own desire not to have the film ruined for themselves.

    https://twitter.com/Russo_Brothers/status/1118219449570455552

    Calling MCU devotees “the greatest fans in the world,” the directors detailed the work that went into making the film, and their desire to see fans enjoy it on its own merits. The letter said, in part:

    Please know that the two of us, along with everyone involved in Endgame, have worked tirelessly for the last three years with the sole intention of delivering a surprising and emotionally powerful conclusion to the Infinity Saga.

    Because so many of you have invested your time, your hearts, and your souls into these stories, we’re once again asking for your help.

    When you see Endgame in the coming weeks, please don’t spoil it for others, the same way you wouldn’t want it spoiled for you.

    The directors ended their letter with the hashtag, #DontSpoilTheEndgame, which has already spiked significantly on Twitter. We expect to see it in even more as the release date looms.

    “Avengers: Endgame” is due in theaters on April 26.

  • Russo Brothers to Oversee MGM Remakes, Including ‘Thomas Crown Affair’

    Russo Brothers to Oversee MGM Remakes, Including ‘Thomas Crown Affair’

    Marvel

    Now that it’s “Endgame,” the Russo brothers are figuring out their post-Marvel lives.

    Directors Joe and Anthony Russo, who have directed four MCU films (including the upcoming “Avengers: Endgame”), have signed a deal that will make them “spiritual creative architects” of iconic properties in the MGM library, according to Deadline.

    Their production company, AGBO, will embark on “a multi-film non-exclusive creative partnership to co-develop, co-produce and co-finance a slate of projects.”

    The first film to fall under the partnership will be a reimagining of “The Thomas Crown Affair” starring Michael B. Jordan, which has been in development for several years.

    The Russos could end up directing that remake, as they both love the 1968 original starring Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway.

    AGBO will also develop James Madigan’s live action/animation take on “The Rats Of Nimh,” based on the award-winning books by author Robert C. O’Brien, as well as the original film “Hacienda.”

    Currently, AGBO has several projects in the pipeline, including the mystery thriller “21 Bridges” with Chadwick Boseman, Sienna Miller, and Taylor Kitsch.

    After “Avengers: Endgame,” the Russos’ next directing gig will be the opioid drama “Cherry” with Tom Holland.

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  • Tom Holland, Russo Brothers Reteaming for Opioid Drama ‘Cherry’

    Tom Holland, Russo Brothers Reteaming for Opioid Drama ‘Cherry’

    Spider-Man in Avengers: Infinity War, Tom Holland
    Marvel Studios

    The “Avengers” may be disassembling soon but Tom Holland and the Russo brothers will still be on the same team.

    The “Spider-Man” star — who appeared in the Russos’ “Avengers: Infinity War” and the upcoming “Endgame” — is in talks to star in their next project, the dark drama “Cherry,” according to Variety.

    It would be the Anthony and Joe Russo’s first non-Marvel film since 2006’s “You, Me, and Dupree.” Their first film was 2002’s “Welcome to Collinwood.”

    Based on Nico Walker’s autobiographical novel, “Cherry”  tells the story of a former Army medic who returns from Iraq with extreme undiagnosed PTSD, falls into opioid addiction and begins robbing banks.

    Walker was convicted in 2011 and is scheduled to be released in 2020. He wrote the book in prison on a typewriter over the course of several years.

    Holland next stars in “Endgame” on April 26, then “Spider-Man: Far From Home” on July 5.

  • A Marvel Fan Saw ‘Infinity War’ 43 Times and Got Invited to the ‘Avengers 4’ Premiere

    If the insane box office performance of “Avengers: Infinity War” wasn’t already proof that Marvel fans are a rabidly loyal bunch, look no further than a rapper and gamer — and MCU superfan — named Nem.

    Nem has been tweeting about his multiple visits to the multiplex to see “Infinity War” since it opened in April, and has already viewed the flick more than 40 times. (So that’s how the film raced to $1 billion so quickly.) What started out as a seemingly innocuous pledge to see the flick numerous times — something we’re sure many fans say they’ll do, but never actually follow through on — became a quest with no end in sight.

    He’s been posting pics of himself inside the theater, as well as snaps of his ticket stubs, to prove that he’s actually seeing the flick, sometimes twice in one day. And he’s also been sporting some truly awesome Marvel gear while he’s at it.

    When Nem hit 42 views earlier this week, he officially went viral, becoming the subject of a Twitter Moment and getting some press from online news outlets. The buzz got the attention of IMAX, which donated 50 tickets to the fan — who had already squeezed in a 43rd viewing during all of the hullabaloo — to continue his journey. And it also reached none other than Joe and Anthony Russo, the directors of “Infinity War,” who personally reached out to Nem with an insanely awesome offer: An invite to the “Avengers 4” premiere.

    In a video message to his followers, Nem called the crazy turn of events “a whirlwind of amazingness,” adding, “I’ve only got eight lives left. I lost one life last night when I heard the news.” He also said he would be celebrating in the most fitting way possible: By seeing “Infinity War” for the 44th time.

    It’s easy to be cynical about something like this, sneering at someone for wasting their time and money on such a silly pursuit. But we think Nem’s unabashed enthusiasm is awesome, and wish him well on his mysterious, seemingly unending quest. (Also, Nem, if you’ve got a spare ticket to the “Avengers 4” premiere, you know where to find us.)

  • These Characters Have the Most Screen Time in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’

    WARNING: This post contains some possible minor SPOILERS for “Avengers: Infinity War.” If you don’t want to know anything about the film — including which characters have the most screen time — stop reading now.

    It’s not easy taking dozens of characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and inserting them all into the same feature film — and according to “Avengers: Infinity War” co-director Joe Russo, that challenge means that some heroes are represented more than others in the flick. But fans should be pleasantly surprised by who is featured the most, Russo said, as well as how they drive the story moving forward.

    In an interview with Fandango, the director acknowledged that it was difficult to cram every single hero into the flick, noting that many of them would not receive equal screen time simply because it was not possible to do so in one movie. Russo did say, however, that those who were seemingly left out of “Avengers 3” will definitely play a bigger role in “Avengers 4.”

    As for who’s running the show in “Infinity War,” though, it should come as no surprise to fans that Russo said Thanos (Josh Brolin) was far and away the central character of the film, since the villain’s presence is what brings together all of the MCU’s various scattered heroes in the first place. Thanos is “at turns horrifying and at turns empathetic,” Russo said, with Fandango likening him to Michael B. Jordan’s sympathetic “Black Panther” baddie, Killmonger.

    The director also hinted that a certain God of Thunder (Chris Hemsworth) makes a big splash in “Infinity War.” Here’s what he said when asked about who has the most screen time:

    Thanos has an incredible amount of screen time in this film, in a lot of ways I would say it’s his movie. … We wanted to tell a story that [audiences] weren’t expecting, and the story is told from the point of view of a villain, which I think is also really unique and risky for a commercial film that will surprise the audience. … [A]nd I think you’ll find that Thor has a really interesting arc in the film. He hasn’t been at the forefront of other Avengers movies but he certainly has a very important role in this film. … I think you’ll see that Thor is at times hilarious and at times tragic in the film.

    Interestingly, Russo also added a third character to the mix when talking about the “Infinity War” characters’ perspectives, including none other than Zoe Saldana‘s “Guardians of the Galaxy” heroine.

    “[The movie’s] point of view is Thanos’ point of view, so it’s a villain driving the narrative. But … that being said, it is at times multi-perspective and there are very important roles for a couple of the heroes,” the director explained to Fandango. “I think you could argue, too, that a lot of the film is told from the point of view of Gamora, and I think she has a really fascinating arc in the movie.”

    We’re already intrigued. Eager fans — who have broken ticket sales and trailer viewing records — won’t have to wait much longer to see how everything plays out: “Avengers: Infinity War” hits theaters worldwide on April 27.

    [via: Fandango]

  • ‘Fargo,’ ‘Walking Dead’ Creators Team Up With Russo Brothers For FX Crime Drama

    'Captain America: Civil War' - European Premiere - VIP ArrivalsIn the era of Peak TV, it’s not just good enough for a project to have one successful creative force behind it. No, for FX’s newest crime drama has four.

    Joe and Anthony Russo, the directors of “Avengers: Infinity War” and two “Captain America” movies, are making “The Mastermind” for FX. They’re teaming up with the production companies of Noah Hawley (“Fargo,” “Legion”) and Robert Kirkman (“The Walking Dead”)

    The drama is based on an Atavist Magazine investigative series about Paul Le Roux, a former programmer and criminal cartel boss who became a DEA informant. Deadline likens it to Netflix’s buzzy “Making a Murderer,” in that the engrossing story unfolds slowly, chapter by chapter.

    Atavist Magazine is a longform nonfiction publishing platform founded by Evan Ratliff, who wrote “The Mastermind” series.

    This is Kirkman’s first producing project for FX; his other series, “The Walking Dead” and “Fear the Walking Dead” are on AMC, while “Outcast” is on Cinemax. Ironically, FX is one of the outlets that rejected the now-enormously successful “Walking Dead.”