It’s no death-defying leap to state that we are currently in the middle of a blockbuster action revolution, in which former stunt performers and coordinators-turned-feature-directors have reminded us why we love explosive scenes, sharply executed fights, and over-the-top brawn. Although movie stars still help sell in these projects (often by boasting how much they do their own stunts), it’s the filmmakers who are now the real ass-kickers. After the likes of thrilling projects like Chad Stahelski’s “John Wick” films, David Leitch’s “Atomic Blonde” and “Deadpool 2,” and J.J.

Continue reading ‘Extraction 2’ Review: Chris Hemsworth’s Actioner Cements Director Sam Hargraves Talents At ‘John Wick’-Like Levels at The Playlist.

“Extraction” was a massive hit for Netflix when it debuted back in April 2020. Sure, it was the height of the pandemic, but the action film starring Chris Hemsworth became one of the biggest original films in the history of the streaming service. Obviously, that means a sequel was inevitable.

READ MORE: Summer 2023 Movie Preview: 52 Must-See Films To Watch

As seen in the trailer for “Extraction 2,” the sequel picks up where the first one left off.

Continue reading ‘Extraction 2’ Trailer: Chris Hemsworth Returns To Beat The Hell Out Of Bad Guys In June at The Playlist.

Recently, Joe Russo (the filmmaker behind “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame”) made headlines for comments he made about the future of artificial intelligence (AI) usage in media. He predicted that within two years, there will be a person who generates a full feature film using only AI. That’s a bold claim, but with the recent advances in the technology, it’s not completely crazy.

Continue reading Joe Russo Says “Everyone Should Be Scared Of AI,” Especially When Used By Corporations at The Playlist.

Joe Russo almost broke Twitter when he said that technology is moving with such momentum that we should expect AI-generated films and TV shows in the very near future. Not only was that a questionable thing to say with a potential writer’s strike looming on the horizon, but, well, recent Russo productions like “The Gray Man” haven’t exactly given anyone hope for the future of screenwriting. Maybe he was setting us up for lowered expectations regarding what he had his name on next.

Continue reading ‘Citadel’ TV Review: The Russo Brothers’ Atrocious Action Series Has No Personality at The Playlist.

One of the buzziest topics being discussed in our culture right now is artificial intelligence (AI). We’ve seen advances in AI over the past couple of years that have truly astounded us. Chatbots that can instantly write stories, essays, songs, or even recipes. AI art that can create styles and pictures from whatever you can imagine. It’s really showing our society just how powerful technology is and how it might affect our everyday media-consuming lives.

Continue reading Joe Russo Says An AI-Generated Film Will Be A Reality In Just 2 Years at The Playlist.

We’ve all assumed that Marvel Studios have grand, long-term plans for character arcs and the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole. Kevin Feige, the head of the studio, does a really good job convincing us that every move they make is mostly calculated and mapped out over a long period of time. Well, according to one of the franchise’s most prolific directors, that might not exactly be the case.

Joe Russo (“Avengers: Endgame”) spoke to Deadline at the Sands International Film Festival in St.

Continue reading ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Director Joe Russo Says The Brilliance Of Marvel Is “There Isn’t Really A Plan” at The Playlist.

As has been evident in the Marvel Studios releases over the past year, the multiverse is here and it’s not going away anytime soon. We’ve seen it in “Loki” and “What If?” on Disney+. Most recently, it’s been a huge part of “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” Then, in May, the multiverse knob is getting turned to 11 with “Doctor Stranger in the Multiverse of Madness.” (This isn’t to mention the other multiverse stuff in non-Marvel products like “The Flash.”) And according to Joe Russo, we could be entering a point where the multiverse will hurt overall storytelling. 

READ MORE: Patrick Stewart Offers Up A Denial About His Presumed ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Appearance

Speaking to IGN, Joe Russo, who is the co-director of some of the biggest, most beloved superhero films ever created (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Avengers: Endgame,” etc…), was asked about the prevalence of multiverse stories in the current crop of superhero films and TV series.

Continue reading Joe Russo Warns Of “Corporate Agenda” Ruining Multiverse Storytelling: “Too Much Of One Thing Is A Bad Thing” at The Playlist.

Joe Russo, along with his filmmaking partner/brother Anthony Russo, is known for huge, blockbuster films. These are the guys that have directed billion-dollar hits like “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame.” So, Russo knows a thing or two about crafting a cinema-ready blockbuster. And because of that, he really doesn’t think the future of the theatrical experience is going to include indie films anymore.

Continue reading Joe Russo Doesn’t Think Independent Films Will Have “A Resurgence At Theaters” In The Future at The Playlist.

Netflix is going back to one of their biggest original features with “Extraction 2.” Little is known about the film’s plot but the service is pulling out all the stops. For those unfamiliar with the basic premise, “Extraction” sees a mercenary with little left to lose on a dangerous mission to rescue a young prisoner. The result is an action-packed venture with everything audiences love about the genre. Production on “Extraction 2” was set to include Australia; those plans changed due to the current pandemic and have added European locations such as Prague.

Continue reading ‘Extraction 2’: Netflix Announces Chris Hemsworth’s Rake Lives With Sequel Teaser Video at The Playlist.

Plenty of fans and industry folks brushed off Scarlett Johansson‘s lawsuit concerning “Black Widow” pivoting from theatrical release to a hybrid model as something that could be resolved privately. But with Johansson’s legal team publicly coming out against arbitration and the lawsuit seemingly moving forward, the first bit of fallout at Marvel Studios has arrived, and it involves the Russo Brothers.

Continue reading Russo Brothers’ Return To MCU For Mystery Movie Stalls Due To Issues Raised In Scarlett Johansson Lawsuit at The Playlist.

Despite the disappointing reviews for “Cherry” don’t tell the Russo Brothers that taking on their independently financed drama was a stretch. They might have directed the second highest-grossing blockbuster of all time, “Avengers Endgame,” and produced numerous television series, but their roots are actually in indie film. Wait, you don’t remember their Park City debut, “Pieces”?

READ ME: Tom Holland on the challenges of “Cherry” and how “WandaVision” is his favorite Marvel creation [Interview]

“We came up through the independent film scene and we’re discovered out of Slamdance.

Continue reading Russo Brothers On ‘Cherry,’ Tom Holland & Steven Soderbergh’s Career Advice [Interview] at The Playlist.

The Russo Brothers recently stopped by The Lights Camera Barstool podcast to promote their upcoming Tom Holland-starring crime flick “Cherry” due for an AppleTV+ release on February 26. And of course, that means questions about Marvel (that take up more of the interview than the actual subject on hand, but hey, who’s counting minutes?)

READ MORE: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2021

Asked to maybe pick or describe a moment or sequence that they wanted to include in “Avengers: Endgame,” but weren’t able to include it, the brothers played a little bit coy and didn’t want to get too specific.

Continue reading Russo Brothers Say Cut ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Sequences Could Still Show Up One Day & Still Would “Love A Crack At Wolverine” at The Playlist.

If you’re a fan of superhero films, or just someone that follows the news about the biggest films of all time, you know that the Russo Brothers have been working the past decade or so with Marvel Studios as the filmmakers helped the company develop the Marvel Cinematic Universe over the course of numerous films. And it’s clear, now, that the Russos learned a big lesson from their time with Marvel—cinematic universes are popular!

Continue reading Joe Russo Explains Plan For “A Universe Of Films” In The ‘Extraction’ Franchise at The Playlist.

There’s a common thought amongst superhero movie fans that says Marvel Studios isn’t as friendly to directors’ visions as Warner Bros./DC. This idea has stemmed from the reports that Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios likes to shape films and follow a storytelling pattern, with directors having to fall into line or step aside. And over at WB, if you want to make an R-rated “Joker” or a dark, gritty “Batman,” you can do so.

Continue reading Joe Russo Supports The Snyder Cut & Says His Marvel Films Are All “Director’s Cuts” at The Playlist.

After a debut that Netflix touts as the biggest ever for a feature film on the streaming platform, you had to imagine the company was going to do everything in its power to get a sequel to “Extraction” up and going as quickly as possible. And according to a new report from Deadline, that’s exactly what happened.

READ MORE: ‘Extraction’: Chris Hemsworth Thanks Fans As Film Has The Biggest Debut Of Any Movie In Netflix’s History

The report claims that Joe Russo is back to write the script for “Extraction 2,” with the hopes that the script will be greenlit by Netflix and that director Sam Hargrave and star Chris Hemsworth will return for the next Tyler Rake adventure.

Continue reading Netflix Brings Back Joe Russo To Script ‘Extraction 2’ With Sam Hargrave & Chris Hemsworth Likely To Return at The Playlist.

There are very few films that are constantly brought up as “iconic” for specific genres. “The Godfather” (and its sequel) is thought to be the gold standard for gangster epics. “Psycho” is probably the slasher that all others are compared to. And when you talk about crime-thrillers films, no one can deny the power of Michael Mann’s “Heat.” Not even the co-director of the biggest film in movie history, Joe Russo.

Continue reading Joe Russo Says He’s Forever Chasing ‘Heat’ & The “Visceral Experience” That Film Gave Him In Theaters at The Playlist.

With the COVID-19 pandemic creating chaos all around the world, in almost every business industry, there’s a lot of uncertainty with what the future might look like. And in the case of the entertainment industry, that’s definitely the case, with cinemas shut down and productions halted all around the world. Needless to say, it’s a weird time to be working on a film, which is echoed by filmmaker Joe Russo in a new interview about his upcoming film, “Cherry.”

READ MORE: The Russos Join Forces With The Obamas For A Netflix Film, ‘Exit West,’ Starring Riz Ahmed

Speaking to Comicbook.com, Russo, who co-directs “Cherry” with his brother Anthony, explained where the filmmakers are in the process of finishing the upcoming crime thriller.

Continue reading Joe Russo Says Tom Holland’s ‘Cherry’ Performance Is “Oscar-Worthy” at The Playlist.

With all due respect to “Black Panther,” 2019 feels like the year we need to start having a serious conversation about comic book movies and award season. With Robert Downey Jr. already a popular pick among fans for his performance in “Avengers: Endgame,” and Joaquin Phoenix and “Joker“ coming on strong after their surprising Venice Film Festival win, this is shaping up as a year where comic book adaptations of varying pedigrees are lining up for their crack at Oscar gold.

Continue reading The Russo Brothers Are Stumping Hard For A Robert Downey Jr. Oscar Nomination at The Playlist.

**Slight spoilers for “Avengers: Endgame”**

There’s no denying that what Marvel Studios has done over the last 11 years is unprecedented, and likely never to happen again. The studio has released 22 films, made over $20 billion, and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. And arguably, you can say that the entire success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes down to one man. No, not Kevin Feige (although, let’s be real, he’s definitely the man behind the man), but actually Robert Downey, Jr., who launched the entire thing with “Iron Man.” With that in mind, “Avengers: Endgame” director Joe Russo thinks that RDJ deserves some awards recognition for this accomplishment.

Continue reading ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Director Says Robert Downey Jr. Deserves An Oscar “More Than Anyone In The Last 40 Years” For His MCU Work at The Playlist.

**NO SPOILERS FOR “AVENGERS: ENDGAME” BELOW. I PROMISE!**

The Russo Brothers have made it their personal mission, as directors of the last two ‘Avengers’ films, to try their best to eliminate spoilers online. Obviously, that’s an impossibility, but by and large, they’ve been successful in at least limiting the spreading of spoilers on a massive scale. With their letters and #DontSpoilTheEndgame campaign, the directors have gone out of their way to allow fans the chance to go watch “Avengers: Endgame” without the threat of someone spoiling the massive twists and reveals.

Continue reading The Russo Brothers Officially Announce The ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Spoiler Ban Is Over After This Weekend at The Playlist.

**Massive spoilers ahead for the end of “Avengers: Endgame.” You’ve been warned.**

Most likely, it’s not until you’re walking out of the theater that you begin to think about the consequences to the end of Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Endgame.” While everything is playing out, with the epic battle followed by a funeral and some goodbyes, audiences are dealing with a flood of emotions and aren’t necessarily thinking about logic.

Continue reading ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Director Explains How Film’s Events Affect ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ at The Playlist.

**HUGE SPOILERS for “Avengers: Endgame” below. You’ve been warned.**

**

Okay, so you’ve probably seen the latest ‘Avengers’ film by now, as the box office totals are astronomical. And if you are like most people, you were bawling your eyes out during the end of the film, where it was shown that Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, gave his life to save the world, leading to the most star-studded funeral in history.

Continue reading ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Director Explains Reason For The Mystery Kid At The End Of The Film at The Playlist.

Having just conquered the box office in spectacular fashion with “Avengers: Endgame,” filmmaker Joe Russo is now offering his two cents on what it’s going to take to conquer the world of streaming. And while you may cry bias when you hear who he thinks will be the two companies fighting it out for streaming dominance, the director does bring up some interesting points.

“The closest race to watch is Disney versus Netflix,” Russo said, while speaking at the 2019 Milken Global Conference in Los Angeles (via Variety).

Continue reading ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Director Says Disney & Netflix Are The Two Companies To Beat In The Streaming Wars at The Playlist.

**Okay, we have to warn you that spoilers for ‘Avengers: Endgame’ are below. No, not the kind that will greatly affect your feelings about the movie. No, we aren’t giving away the plot or any twists. But there is one thing in the film that we discuss, so proceed at your own risk**

**For real…**

**For those wanting something spoiler-free to read about ‘Endgame,’ might we recommend our review?**

**Okay, we warned you…**

Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have noticed that the faces that have headlined the most recent films in the franchise have finally broken the mold from the typical white male lead.

Continue reading The Russos Reveal Thought Process Behind Marvel’s First Openly Gay (Non-Superhero) Character In ‘Avengers: Endgame’ at The Playlist.

If you follow the Russo Brothers on Instagram, they’ve been doing a bit of a countdown in preparation of their upcoming “Avengers: Endgame.” Over the course of the last several days, the duo has posted about watching one Marvel Studios film each night, in chronological order leading up to April 26 and the release of ‘Endgame.’ But let’s be real, who has time to watch 21 films?

Continue reading The Russo Brothers List The Required Pre-‘Avengers: Endgame’ Viewing For Those Who Can’t Do A 21-Film Marathon at The Playlist.