Director Joe Russo is telling Marvel fans to brush up on their homework before the next big Avengers installment hits theaters. The filmmaker, who helmed Avengers: Endgame alongside his brother Anthony, says that revisiting the 2019 blockbuster is essentially mandatory viewing for anyone hoping to fully grasp the events of the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
Speaking about the connection between the two films, Joe Russo emphasized that Endgame lays the groundwork for the narrative threads that Doomsday will pull on. The director’s comments point to a direct through-line between the two projects, suggesting that the sequel will not simply nod to past events, but will build its core plot on foundations established in the earlier film’s time-travel-heavy storyline.
Russo’s statement arrives as Marvel Studios prepares to close out its current Multiverse Saga, with Doomsday positioned as a pivotal entry. The director’s insistence on rewatching Endgame implies that Doomsday will feature narrative payoffs, callbacks, and character motivations that hinge on specific moments from the 2019 release. For the uninitiated or those whose memories have faded over seven years, a refresher could be the difference between following the plot and feeling lost in the theater.
A Deep-Cut Connection to the Past
The Russo brothers’ attachment to Doomsday has been one of the most closely watched developments in Marvel’s recent slate. Their return to the franchise marks a reunion with the characters and universe they helped shape through Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Civil War, Infinity War, and Endgame. Joe Russo’s comments suggest that their new film will operate as a direct narrative sequel to Endgame in more ways than one, weaving together loose threads that were left dangling when the credits rolled in 2019.
While plot details for Doomsday remain tightly under wraps, the director’s remarks indicate that the film will deal with the consequences of the Avengers’ actions during the Time Heist and the alternate timeline that was created when Steve Rogers chose to live out his life with Peggy Carter. The Russo brothers have long been known for their meticulous attention to continuity, and their latest warning to fans reinforces that Doomsday will be a dense, continuity-heavy experience.
The 2019 film itself, which ran a hefty 181 minutes, concluded the Infinity Saga with a massive ensemble battle and several emotional farewells. Following the devastating events of Infinity War, Endgame saw Earth’s Mightiest Heroes band together one last time to reverse the Mad Titan’s snap. It starred Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton, and Josh Brolin as Thanos, alongside Don Cheadle as James Rhodes.
The film was a critical and commercial juggernaut, earning a TMDb rating of 8.241 out of 10 and cementing its status as one of the most beloved entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Critics and audiences alike praised its balance of spectacle and pathos, and its ending - which saw Stark sacrifice himself to defeat Thanos - remains a touchstone for the franchise. That sacrifice, along with the multiversal fallout hinted at in Doomsday’s very title, is likely to be central to the new film’s plot.
Why a Rewatch Matters
For casual viewers, the demand to rewatch a nearly three-hour film might seem like a tall order. But Russo’s framing suggests that Doomsday will reward attentive audiences with direct parallels and thematic echoes. The time travel mechanics introduced in Endgame - the Quantum Realm, the branched realities, the Infinity Stones - are expected to play a significant role in the new narrative. Without a firm grasp on how those elements functioned, key scenes in Doomsday could lose their impact.
Moreover, the emotional weight of Endgame is not something that can be summarized in a recap video. The bonds forged and broken among the original Avengers inform the current state of the MCU. Characters like Thor, Banner, and Clint Barton who survived the events of Endgame have carried that trauma into subsequent films and series. Doomsday will likely address how those survivors have processed their grief and guilt, making a rewatch essential for understanding their current headspaces.
Russo’s advice also serves as practical guidance for newcomers who may have entered the MCU through more recent Disney+ series or films like Deadpool & Wolverine. The interconnected nature of the franchise has always rewarded devoted viewers, but Doomsday appears to be setting a higher bar for prior knowledge. By pointing directly to Endgame, the director is providing a clear roadmap for fans who want to be fully prepared.
As the release of Avengers: Doomsday draws nearer, more details are expected to surface about its story and cast. For now, Russo’s recommendation stands as a clear directive: if you want to understand what comes next, go back to where it all culminated. The journey through the Multiverse begins with a single, very long, rewatch.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
