'Avengers: Infinity War': The Russo Brothers Reveal Three Relationships They Want To Explore
It's no secret Avengers: Infinity War – Part 1 and Part II are going to be big movies. Directors Anthony & Joe Russo have called the sequels the Nashville of superhero movies, "a culmination of everything that's occurred in the Marvel Universe up to the point where the Marvel Universe is released." There is no shortage of characters in the two-part film (which will undergo a title change at some point), but there are a handful of relationships, in particular, that the Russo brothers are already excited about exploring further.
Below, the Captain America: Civil War directors discuss a few conflicts and dynamics that'll play key roles in Infinity War (SPOILERS for Captain America: Civil War are ahead.).
Captain America: Civil War does an impressive job of building on the relationships we've seen in past Marvel films, partially because Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely's script doesn't spend too much time focusing on the future of the MCU. There's a surprising amount of breathing room for the characters in the film, so most of the pivotal arcs, including those of new characters like Black Panther, are given the proper time to develop.
You don't leave Captain America: Civil War looking forward to Infinity War because of some blatant sequel setup; you leave Civil War excited, hopefully, because you want to see where these relationships are heading. When we spoke with Anthony & Joe Russo at the junket, the directing duo told us about some of the personal conflicts they're already thinking about for Infinity War:
Joe Russo: Certainly Scarlet Witch and Vision. It's a very compelling story. Obviously, it's one ripped from the comics that, for many years, there was some very interesting storytelling and characters. One character is searching for how to identify with humanity, another who is on a journey away from her humanity towards becoming a very powerful being.
Anthony Russo: I would also say Captain America and Iron Man is central. Can those guys ever repair their relationship? What is their relationship ever going to be like moving forward from this?Joe Russo: Should they repair it?Anthony Russo: That's as complicated as anything. The other relationship that's still exciting to us is, again, Cap and Bucky. The wonderful thing about this movie, which started in Winter Soldier, is that Cap had a belief in him, that there's still a human being inside the Winter Soldier that he can save and that he can reach, and he's gone to incredible lengths now, with incredible faith, that that's waiting for him if he goes there. He's found that human being inside Bucky Barnes, but who is that guy going forward? Just because he's found and he's there, he's still this crazy, bastard hybrid of who he used to be in The First Avenger and this killing machine.Joe Russo: If he's not Bucky Barnes or The Winter Soldier, then who he is?Anthony Russo: He's somebody new now. What kind of relationship will him and Cap have moving forward?
Will Iron Man and Captain America repair their relationship in time to save the day? Most likely, yes, but it'll be interesting to see how the two characters — and everyone else, for that matter — comes together after the events of Captain America: Civil War. And although the Russo brothers are done with the Captain America films, at least they aren't finished with Cap and Bucky's relationship.
If there is one obvious hint in Civil War at what's in store with Infinity War, it's when Vision says he wishes he could control the infinity stone in his head. When we spoke with Markus and McFeely, they confirmed Vision's line is a tease:
Markus: That's the most blatant set up I can think of. Yeah, I mean the only thing is just putting them in the bad position so that when Infinity War does happen, they are not going to be a unified front, and they'll be unprepared for Pearl Harbor.
That line doesn't stick out entirely like a sore thumb. Vision is starting to ask more questions about who or what he is, and the superhero naturally mentions the stone and its power over him. Vision's role is a little more significant in Captain America: Civil War, and, based on what the Russo brothers told us, we're, thankfully, going to see more of him and Scarlet Witch in Infinity War.
Infinity War – Part 1 opens in theaters May 4th, 2018, and Part II is scheduled for May 3rd, 2019.