Avengers: Doomsday director says character balance is 'very difficult'

Balancing a forward-moving story with respect for much-loved Marvel characters is "very difficult", Avengers: Doomsday co-director Anthony Russo has said.

Russo spoke during a Q&A after a screening of Avengers: Endgame Encore, according to Variety. He is directing Doomsday with his brother Joe Russo, who shares the credit as co-director.

Fandom does not speak with a single voice, Russo said. Different fans want different things from the characters, and from different versions of those characters.

That split makes choices hard. Russo said he and Joe need to surprise themselves about who the characters are and where they can go, in the hope of surprising audiences as well.

The full cast has not yet been announced, Russo said. Those confirmed so far include Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Paul Rudd, Simu Liu and Tom Hiddleston.

Doomsday is listed by Marvel as a 2026 film. Marvel Studios said in March 2025 that the film had begun production, according to Marvel.

The brothers are described by the studio as four-time Marvel directors. They directed Avengers: Endgame together, and Marvel said they will also direct Avengers: Secret Wars in addition to Doomsday, according to Marvel.

For fans, this means few surprises for now. The directors are keeping plot and casting close, while warning that pleasing everyone is not possible.