The Russo Brothers Could Direct 'Avengers: Infinity War: Parts 1 And 2'

UPDATE: This original story ran on October 13. Now Deadline has heard the same thing, making it even more likely. Original story follows with minor updates.

The massive news that Robert Downey Jr. will play Tony Stark in Captain America: Civil War answered a bunch of burning questions about the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It gave us our overall storyline for Phase 3: Civil War. It tells us when Marvel will bring Iron Man back again: not Iron Man 4, but in Cap 3. And it tells us the directors of Captain America 3, Joe and Anthony Russo, are very well liked and trusted at Marvel Studios.

Which is why, along with the Downey Jr. news, rumors began to swirl that the Russo Brothers are in line to direct Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 and maybe even Avengers: Infinity War Part 2 if Joss Whedon decides not to return. Below, read more about the Avengers 3 director news and how Phase 3 and 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are shaping up,

Badass Digest posted the rumor in their coverage of the Downey Jr. news. Here's the excerpt:

How closely will Captain America 3 tie in with Avengers 3? I've been told that the Russo Brothers are in talks to direct Avengers 3 and possibly 4. Sources tell me that they're the favorites of Marvel right now and that they are the guys Kevin Feige want to pick up the mantle from Joss Whedon.

This is assuming, of course, that Whedon doesn't want to come back. Everything I've heard is that Ultron has been a huge grind on him so I think he's probably done for a while. And the Russos are super hungry after Captain America: The Winter Soldier. If Captain America 3 is the bridge to Avengers 3, it makes a lot of sense for them to helm.

So basically it looks like this. Avengers Age of Ultron screws everyone up big time. Tony Stark invents a being, Ultron, that almost destroys the world. The Avengers win, of course, but Stark doesn't want to be a superhero anymore. This sets up Captain America 3 where the two battle it out in Civil War. This won't be a literal adaptation of the comic book story, but something similar. Divergent viewpoints going head to head over the meaning of superheroism.

That much seems obvious. According to Badass, from there, Captain America is not in Avengers 3. That's more a story for new characters like Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, maybe some others. Then, don't forget the Guardians of the Galaxy. Maybe the fallout of their story in Part 2 will finally lead Thanos to Earth in Avengers 4, and that will be the event that forces everyone to team up.

Now, the issue is Robert Downey Jr. isn't signed for Avengers 4. Just Avengers 3. So we'll see how this all plays out. It's all just a lot of educated guesswork and speculation at the moment. But something like that seems to be how things are shaping up. And they could be shaping up with the Russo Brothers right in the middle.

What do you think of the Avengers 3 director news?