With a little over a week before San Diego Comic-Con and Marvel Studios’ two big panels, they might have finally found directors for Avengers 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars in some old familiar favorites thought to be out of the equation. Destin Daniel Cretton was originally intended to direct Avengers 5, previously known as The Kang Dynasty, but dropped out of the project, potentially to work on a sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Both Avengers 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars are massive films for the Marvel Cinematic Universe and many assumed they would want a director who has plenty of experience in superhero epics. Now they look to have found two men with more than a little experience in that field: The Russo brothers.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Joe and Anthony Russo are in early discussions to direct Avengers 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars. This would mark a major return for the Russo brothers to Marvel Studios, as they previously directed 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy was previously rumored to direct.

Could The Russo Brothers Strike Box Office Gold Again for Marvel?

Following The Russo’s massive critical and box office success with their MCU films, their recent work has really struggled. Cherry and The Grey Man received mixed-negative reviews from fans and critics alike, while their spy television series Citadel was one of the most expensive television shows ever, and it failed to catch on with mainstream audiences. While a return to Marvel might seem like a safe bet, it is also one they have been teasing for years, as they always said the project that would bring them back is an adaptation of Secret Wars. This outcome would be something Marvel fans have been calling for since Secret Wars was announced, and having already delivered the MCU’s biggest movies – which are also two of the highest grossing movies of all-time – it would be foolish of Marvel Studios to look elsewhere.

Related Prediction: Why Avengers 5 Will Be Changed to Avengers vs. X-Men With Marvel scrapping plans for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, it is likely the MCU’s Avengers 5 will be Avengers vs. X-Men.

Avengers 5 was thrown into turmoil by the firing of Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror. Marvel Studios had built their entire Multiverse Saga around the character of Kang, something that is now being rewritten, at least in part. With the news that the Russo brothers are in talks to direct Avengers 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars so close to Comic-Con weekend, and with work on the big finale of the Multiverse Saga needing to start soon, next week’s Comic-Con panel would be the perfect stage for a big announcement.

Marvel Studios’ return to Hall H on July 27 could hold many surprises for those who have stuck with the MCU through thick and thin. Not only could the Russos be announced as the directors for the next Avengers double-header, but the new title of Avengers 5 could also finally be revealed. With many changes happening at Marvel Studios recently, and so many projects like Blade in a strange limbo right now, there are many questions that could be answered next weekend.

Avengers 5
is set to open in theaters on May 1, 2026.
Avengers: Secret Wars
is set to open on May 7, 2027.