‘Avengers: Endgame’ directors reveal which characters could bring them out of Marvel retirement

Marvel Studios

• "Avengers: Endgame" directors Anthony and Joe Russo have said that they’re done with Marvel movies for now, but in an interview with Business Insider, they didn’t rule out a return.
• "It’s just about finding the right story that inspires us," Joe Russo said.
• Some characters that could do that are former Fox-owned characters, such as Doctor Doom and Wolverine, they said.
• Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

"Avengers: Endgame" directors Anthony and Joe Russo have made four Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, beginning with 2014’s "Captain America: The Winter Soldier." "Endgame" isn’t just a conclusion for this phase of the MCU, but a conclusion for the directing duo, who have said that they’re done with Marvel movies — for now.

In an interview with Business Insider, the Russo brothers didn’t rule out a return to the MCU.

"We love Marvel, we have the most amazing working relationship with them, and we’re very close with them," Anthony Russo told Business Insider. "Maybe there will be an idea that comes up in the future, but there is none now."

READ MORE: ‘Avengers: Endgame’ directors describe the 100-hour workweeks and tremendous pressure of making their $2 billion blockbuster

Joe Russo added, "It’s just about finding the right story that inspires us. That’s why we get out of bed every day."

What would that be? With Disney’s acquisition of Fox, which closed in March, Marvel Studios now has access to Marvel characters previously owned by Fox, like the X-Men and Fantastic Four. 

"I love Ben Grimm from the Fantastic Four," Joe said. "Doctor Doom was always one of my favorite villains."

He added that he loves the X-Men character, Wolverine, but he’s "got to be set aside for a little while." Hugh Jackman portrayed Wolverine in Fox’s "X-Men" series for 17 years, retiring from the role in 2017’s "Logan." 

It will be a while before we see the former Fox characters incorporated in the MCU in a major way. Marvel Studios didn’t get the green light to formally develop projects for the characters until the merger was finalized. Marvel Studios has eight release dates set for yet-to-be-announced movies through 2022, but the odds of any of those being about the X-Men or Fantastic Four are slim.

We already know what six of those movies could be.

"Black Panther," "Doctor Strange," and "Guardians of the Galaxy" sequels are in the works, as are a Black Widow solo movie, "The Eternals," and "Shang-Chi," about Marvel’s first Asian superhero. Sequels to "Captain Marvel" and July’s "Spider-Man: Far From Home" are also likely in that timeframe.

Read more of Business Insider’s "Avengers: Endgame" coverage:

• ‘Avengers: Endgame’ directors tease ‘Guardians of the Galaxy 3’ and one character’s uncertain fate
• ‘Avengers: Endgame’ directors explain the movie’s Loki twist, and it has major implications for the character’s Disney Plus TV series
• Avengers: Endgame’ raises questions about the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but gives plenty of clues
• How ‘Avengers: Endgame’ changes these 5 upcoming Marvel movies and TV shows

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See Also:

• ‘Avengers: Endgame’ directors tease ‘Guardians of the Galaxy 3’ and one character’s uncertain fate
• ‘Avengers: Endgame’ directors describe the 100-hour workweeks and tremendous pressure of making their $2 billion blockbuster
• ‘Avengers: Endgame’ directors explain the movie’s Loki twist, and it could have major implications for the character’s Disney Plus TV series

SEE ALSO: Disney’s movie release shake-up shows how it will dominate Hollywood for years to come, from ‘Avatar’ to ‘Star Wars’

Source: Business Insider – tclark@businessinsider.com (Travis Clark)