While the Marvel fan base is divided about the Russo Brothers returning to the MCU to direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, bona-fide superhero director Zack Snyder is feeling optimistic about the beloved directors making their Marvel comeback. Joe and Anthony Russo are responsible for some of Marvel Studios’ most beloved and successful movies, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Infinity War and, the second-biggest movie of all-time, Avengers: Endgame. When Kevin Feige announced that the Russos were returning to direct the next two Avengers movies, fans had mixed opinions. Some thought it was a lazy, overly-safe decision on Marvel Studios’ part. However, others, like Zack Snyder, are glad that Marvel have paired with two directors who have established themselves as great comic book movie filmmakers.

Zack Snyder appeared on the ReelBlend podcast to discuss his Director’s Cuts for the Rebel Moon franchise. During the conversation, Snyder was asked for his opinion about the Russos making their Marvel comeback. Snyder is optimistic about Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, believing the Russos to be the perfect pair to get the franchise out of its slump. He said:

“I think that’s great for them. They’re amazing, and they’ve done really, I think they’ve done great work with those guys. I’m sure they’ll do something amazing. They’re talented guys, and I think they’ll do something cool. I think it’s time to shake it up a little bit.”

Is Marvel Studios Playing It Too Safe With the Russo Brothers?

Marvel Studios’ cinematic slump could be coming to an end. While Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was a massive hit, the franchise, which once dominated at the box office, has been on the receiving end of poor reviews and low box office figures for its Phase 5 slate of movies. Deadpool & Wolverine has helped put Marvel Studios back on their feet — becoming the highest grossing R-rated movie in the process — but the studio needs more than one hit to carry them over the finish line for their Multiverse Saga.

Enter Joe and Anthony Russo. The pair have potentially had the most successful Marvel run of any directors the company has worked with so far. Having directed four MCU movies to date, the duo are long-time comic book readers, and fan favorites among the Marvel community. So why has the fan base turned on Marvel Studios for bringing them back? The main reason is that those fans were hoping that Marvel would attempt something new to reinvigorate the franchise. Bringing the Russo brothers back feels like a step in the wrong direction for a company whose recent movies have been critiqued as overly formulaic and unoriginal. To the disgruntled fans, it appears as though Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios have learned the wrong lessons from their recent failures, and it’s left them worried that future MCU movies will fail to recapture the excitement and originality of the MCU in its heyday.

The Russo brothers’ MCU movies can be streamed on Disney+.