Russo Brothers to Take over from Joss Whedon, Will Be Directing ‘Avengers: Infinity War, Part 1 and Part 2’

Joe and Anthony Russo, who directed Captain America: The Winter Soldier and who will return for Captain America: Civil War, are also going to be helming Avengers: Infinity War, both Parts 1 and 2. They will be taking over the franchise from Joss Whedon who directed the first two Avengers films, with the second one, Avengers: Age of Ultron, set to open in theaters on May 1.

Captain America: Civil War, which is still in pre-production, has a May 6, 2016, release date. Avengers: Infinity War - Part 1 and Avengers: Infinity War - Part 2 are announced for release on May 4, 2018, and May 3, 2019, respectively. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the films are being planned to be shot back-to-back, with filming expected to begin in 2016. Also, while still unconfirmed, the entertainment news site said that the brothers will likely also be working with Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely for the scripts of the Avengers sequel movies. Markus and Feeley penned the screenplay for Captain America: Winter Soldier and are writing the material for the Civil War, which is set to begin shooting next month.

Back in January, Whedon already hinted that Avengers: Age of Ultron will be his last. He told Slash Film: "I couldn't imagine doing this again. It's enormously hard, and it [will] be, by [the time I would make 'Avengers 3 & 4′], a good five years since I created anything that was completely my own. So it's very doubtful that I would take on the two-part Infinity War movie that would eat up the next four years of my life. I obviously still want to be a part of the Marvel Universe - I love these guys - but it ain't easy. This year has been more like running three shows than any year of my life. It is bonkers."

Aside from Marvel, the Russo brothers have on March 3 also signed a three-year first-look feature deal with Sony Pictures that begins next month. In their press statement, they said: "We're thrilled to make a home at Sony Pictures, and to be partnering with the entire team. The studio has created an environment that is not only collaborative, but truly filmmaker-friendly, and we're excited to begin developing both new and ambitious material with them." They are attached direct The Grey Man, a film adaptation of the Mark Greaney novel of the same name, with Joe Roth and Palak Patel on board to oversee for Sony.