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‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Co-Director Explains It’s ‘Very Difficult’ to Evolve Marvel Characters, But ‘We Need To Surprise Ourselves’ and ‘Audiences’
Anthony Russo said that developing established Marvel characters for “Avengers: Doomsday” is difficult because the directors want to respect their histories while taking their stories in unexpected directions. He noted that fans have varied opinions, and said he and co-director Joe Russo hope to surprise themselves and audiences.
The comments come after a trailer showed Chris Hemsworth’s Thor in a more serious light, following divided reactions to 2022’s “Thor: Love and Thunder”, which Hemsworth said made the character “too silly”. Russo also said the film’s full cast has not yet been announced; confirmed names include Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Paul Rudd, Simu Liu and Tom Hiddleston. “Avengers: Doomsday” is due in cinemas on 18 December.
In short
- The Russos aim to evolve Marvel characters while respecting their histories.
- Fans differ in how they respond to characters and their portrayals.
- “Avengers: Doomsday” opens on 18 December; its full cast is unannounced.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Established characters carry histories and emotional bonds that make audiences care about them, so changing them too sharply can feel unearned or dismissive. A thoughtful evolution can honour that history while giving characters new challenges, helping a long-running series stay creatively alive and surprising for both its makers and viewers.
The case against
Taking familiar characters in unexpected directions can risk weakening the traits and tone that made audiences value them, especially when fans already disagree about past changes. Respecting continuity and audience expectations may be a better way to sustain trust, with development that feels earned rather than surprising for its own sake.
Explained simply
The Avengers films are blockbuster movies that bring together multiple superhero characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. "Avengers: Doomsday" is the latest in this series and will be released in December 2026.
Directors Anthony and Joe Russo must develop characters that audiences have watched evolve across numerous previous films. The challenge is honouring these characters' established identities whilst taking their stories in fresh, unexpected directions.
The Thor character illustrates this challenge. The 2022 film "Thor: Love and Thunder" was divisive, with some feeling the character had become too comedic, whilst the new film appears to show a more serious tone. This reflects the broader tension between respecting fan attachments to established characters and evolving them in new ways.
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