Fall Movie Preview: Russo brothers, maestros of ensembles, test their limits in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

Before becoming the preferred creators of Marvel's most ambitious movies, Joe and Anthony Russo oversaw a smaller ensemble: the Bluth family of "Arrested Development" and "Community." Known for their prowess in ensemble storytelling, the brothers attribute their affinity to their large Italian family and the intricate dynamics they experienced growing up in a multi-generational household in Ohio.

This proclivity has been instrumental in their work within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, particularly with the expansive Marvel movies "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame." However, "Avengers: Doomsday," set to release on December 18, presents an unprecedented challenge as it unites characters from several different corners of the MCU, including the Avengers, the Wakandans, the New Avengers, the Fantastic Four and the original X-Men.

As Anthony Russo notes, "The MCU is this massive experiment in how vast, how much scope can an ensemble really have?" The Russo brothers, currently working on "Doomsday" and preparing to "soft prepping" production on "Secret Wars," have spoken about how tackling multiple films simultaneously is an unprecedented challenge for them.