Russo brothers | |
|---|---|
 Joe (left) and Anthony Russo in 2019 | |
| Born | Anthony J. Russo (1970-02-03)February 3, 1970 (age 56) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. Joseph Vincent Russo (1971-07-18)July 18, 1971 (age 54) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Anthony:Columbia University,University of Pennsylvania Joe:University of California, Los Angeles,University of Iowa Both:Case Western Reserve University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Father | Basil Russo |
| Relatives | Angela Russo-Otstot (sister) |
Anthony J. Russo (born February 3, 1970) andJoseph Vincent Russo (born July 18, 1971), collectively known as theRusso brothers (/ˈruːsoʊ/ROO-soh), are American filmmakers. They are best known for directing four films in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU):Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014),Captain America: Civil War (2016),Avengers: Infinity War (2018), andAvengers: Endgame (2019). The pair are thethird-highest-grossing directors of all time and their filmEndgame grossed over $2.798 billion worldwide, briefly becoming thehighest-grossing film of all time.
Prior to their Marvel work, the brothers directed and produced the comedy seriesArrested Development (2003–2005),Community (2009–2014), andHappy Endings (2011–2012), winning aPrimetime Emmy Award forArrested Development. The brothers co-founded the independent film studioAGBO,[1] which produced theirNetflix directorial projectsThe Gray Man (2022) andThe Electric State (2025). They also directedCherry (2021),[2] and have produced several films through AGBO, includingExtraction (2020) andEverything Everywhere All at Once (2022), which won seven Academy Awards, includingBest Picture.
The brothers are currently directing the next two installments of theAvengers franchise,Avengers: Doomsday (2026) andAvengers: Secret Wars (2027).
Anthony J. Russo (born February 3, 1970)[3][4] and Joseph Vincent Russo (born July 18, 1971)[4][5] were born to Patricia Gallupoli and attorney and judgeBasil Russo inCleveland, Ohio.[6] Both of their parents are of Italian descent,[7] with families emigrating fromSicily andAbruzzo, respectively.[6] After settling in Ohio, they raised Anthony, Joe, Gabriella, andAngela Russo, all of whom attendedBenedictine High School.[8]
After high school, Joe attended theUniversity of Iowa, where he majored in English and writing and graduated in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in English.[9][10] He became interested in acting after a professor encouraged him to write and perform a monologue for his class.[11] Anthony attended theUniversity of Pennsylvania, where he also majored to English.[12]
The Russo brothers wrote, directed, and produced their first feature film,Pieces, which they self-financed via student loans and credit cards. In an interview withDeadline, Anthony Russo said, "We were both in Cleveland and Robert Rodriguez had just madeEl Mariachi, and that inspired us. We were film buffs growing up, and his experience inspired us to make our own credit card film."[13]
Pieces debuted at theSlamdance Film Festival and caught the attention of directorSteven Soderbergh, who described the film as "insanely ambitious and dense... I was just very activated by how activated they were and it was clear they were grinders."[14] Soderbergh reached out to the Russo brothers and, over a lunch meeting, offered to produce their next feature,Welcome to Collinwood, a caper comedy starringWilliam H. Macy,Isaiah Washington, andSam Rockwell. The Russo brothers were part of theDirectors' Fortnight lineup for the2002 Cannes Film Festival,[15] whereWelcome to Collinwood was one of the few U.S. entries and closed the fest.[16]
After their sophomore film,FX Networks executiveKevin Reilly hired the brothers to direct the pilot for the seriesLucky, having liked the pair's work onWelcome to Collinwood. They were also hand-picked by director and producerRon Howard to direct thepilot forFox'sArrested Development.[17] The Russos suggested and fought to castJason Bateman for the lead role ofMichael Bluth, despite studio skepticism toward Bateman.[18]
In an interview with/Film, producerDan Harmon, who hired the Russos to direct the pilot of his TV seriesCommunity, praised the Russos' ability to spot talent and cast based on character regardless of status in the industry.[19] He credits the Russo brothers with the idea to castDonald Glover on theNBCsitcom, calling the brothers "geniuses in casting."[19] The brothers directed 34 episodes ofCommunity, includingA Fistful of Paintballs" and "For a Few Paintballs More," which served as theseason two finale and received critical acclaim.Alan Sepinwall ofUproxx described the Russo brothers' installment as "nothing short ofThe Godfather Part II of sitcom episodes".[20]
Their success withArrested Development andCommunity put the Russo brothers on the radar ofMarvel Studios presidentKevin Feige, who brought them into theMarvel Cinematic Universe. In 2014, the Russo brothers directed their first film for Marvel Studios, the action espionage thrillerCaptain America: The Winter Soldier starringChris Evans asCaptain America. The brothers were in the running against nine other directors to helm the film, which was the sequel toCaptain America: The First Avenger (2011), directed byJoe Johnston.[21]
In an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Joe Russo explained that they were given the script and "fell in love" with the movie, creatingstoryboards, rewriting scenes, and presenting ananimatic to Marvel to get the job.[22] The brothers notedThe French Connection,Black Friday,Three Days of the Condor andAll the President's Men as their influences in tone and style.[23] The movie was a box office success and received critical acclaim, withOwen Gleiberman ofEntertainment Weekly praising its tackling of serious subject matter and comparing it favorably toThe Dark Knight (2008).[24] The film was a financial success earning $714 million worldwide.[25]
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The Russo brothers returned to the MCU withCaptain America: Civil War (2016), the success of which got them hired on their highest profile projects to date:Avengers: Infinity War (2018) andAvengers: Endgame (2019).[26]Infinity War would become the first superhero movie to gross over $2 billion at the box office.Endgame was the second superhero movie to surpass that same target, earning $2.799 billion in global box office. After breaking numerousbox office records, the Russo brothers joinedJames Cameron as the only directors to make two films that each earned over $2 billion.[27]
In 2017, the Russo brothers founded their production company,AGBO[28] with producing partnerMike Larocca. The following year, the brothers' longtime Marvel film collaboratorsChristopher Markus and Stephen McFeely joined AGBO as Co-Presidents of Story.[29] The brothers made it a part of AGBO's mission to "support emerging talent and foster their creativity,"[30] saying they wanted to pay forward the kind of mentorship that Steven Soderbergh had given them by supporting the directorial efforts of emerging creative voices.[31] Feature directorial debuts supported by AGBO and produced by the Russo brothers includeMosul (2019) by writerMatthew Michael Carnahan andRelic (2020) by directorNatalie Erika James.[32]
Another first-time filmmaker supported by the Russo brothers via AGBO was their long-time collaborator,Sam Hargrave, who directedExtraction (2020), starringChris Hemsworth. Joe Russo adapted the film fromCiudad, agraphic novel he wrote with his brother andAnde Parks.[33]Extraction went on to be the most-watched original film in Netflix's history.[34] This film would spawn a sequel,Extraction 2 (2023), which Joe Russo also wrote. A third installment was announced in 2023,[35] and is set to begin production in 2025.[36] The Netflix seriesMercenary: An Extraction Series began filming in Ireland and Morocco in December 2025.[37]
In 2019, the Russo brothers reunited with Marvel alumnusChadwick Boseman when they produced the action-thriller21 Bridges. The brothers had approached Boseman about the film at the premiere ofInfinity War.[38] Around this time, the Russo brothers also executive produced AGBO's first documentary series,Larry Charles' Dangerous World of Comedy.[39]
After the release ofAvengers: Infinity War andAvengers: Endgame, the Russo brothers made a creative pivot to drama, directing theApple TV+ filmCherry (2021), which was co-written by their sister, Angela Russo-Otstot. The film explores theopioid epidemic through the lens of a war veteran withPTSD played byTom Holland. Anthony Russo said the film was personal for the brothers, as they have family members who have suffered and died from opioid addiction.[40] The Russo brothers then turned their focus back to blockbuster action by directing theNetflix'sThe Gray Man (2022) starringChris Evans,Ryan Gosling andAna de Armas. BothCherry andThe Gray Man received negative reviews from critics.[41][42]
The Russo brothers produced the filmEverything Everywhere All At Once (2022), written and directed byDaniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert; it becameA24's highest-grossing film worldwide at the box office[43] and won sevenAcademy Awards, includingBest Original Screenplay,Best Director, andBest Picture.
In 2022, they executive producedCaptive Audience: A Real American Horror Story, which earned record-breaking viewership for Hulu,[44] and the science fiction horror seriesFrom. The following year they produced the seriesCitadel forAmazon, starringRichard Madden,Priyanka Chopra Jonas, andStanley Tucci.Citadel received negative reviews, with much criticism directed toward its $300 million budget.[45][46][47] Despite this, the series was renewed for a second season, which was directed entirely by Joe Russo and is set to premiere in 2026.[48][49]
The brothers reunited with Netflix in March 2025 for the science-fiction action filmThe Electric State (2025) starringMillie Bobby Brown andChris Pratt and based uponSimon Stålenhag'soriginal graphic novel. The film received extremely negative reviews from critics, earning a 14% score onRotten Tomatoes. Critic Lindsey Bahr ofThe Associated Press wrote ofThe Electric State, "it's lacking a spark and a soul that might distinguish it as memorable or special. Worse, considering everything it has going for it, The Electric State is kind of dull."[50] In a review ofThe Electric State,New York Post's Johnny Oleksinski noted that the Russo brothers' directing efforts afterAvengers: Endgame were "some of the worst and priciest movies of the past six years"; he panned this particular film's lack of originality.[51] Despite this critical reception, the film debuted on Netflix as #1 in the platform's Top 10 upon its week of release.[52]
AtSan Diego Comic-Con in July 2024, Marvel Studios announced that the Russo brothers would return to directAvengers: Doomsday (2026) andAvengers: Secret Wars (2027), and that AGBO would be co-producing the films.[53] Filming began in late 2024.
On March 1, 2024, it was announced that the Russo brothers would produce the swashbuckler action filmThe Bluff, directed byFrank E. Flowers and starringPriyanka Chopra, forAmazon MGM Studios.[54] On February 5, 2025, it was reported that the brothers would produce the upcoming crime thrillerThe Whisper Man, directed byJames Ashcroft, starringRobert De Niro, and based on the novel of the same name, for Netflix.[55]
Throughout the brothers' careers in television and film, they have consistently collaborated with many of the same actors and filmmakers.[56] Their most prolific creative partners are screenwritersChristopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who wrote all four of the Russo-directed Marvel films (Captain America: The Winter Soldier,Captain America: Civil War,Avengers: Infinity War andAvengers: Endgame), as well asThe Gray Man andThe Electric State. Markus and McFeely currently serve as Co-Presidents of story atAGBO. Their sisterAngela Russo-Otstot, a producer and screenwriter, is also a key creative partner. She has worked on numerous AGBO projects and serves as the company's Chief Creative Officer, overseeing development across film and television.[57]
On the filmmaking side, the Russos have repeatedly partnered with casting directorSarah Finn, who worked on all four Marvel films, as well as AGBO projects such asMosul,Extraction,Cherry,The Electric State, andEverything Everywhere All At Once.
Musically, they have worked with composerAlan Silvestri onInfinity War,Endgame, andThe Electric State, and frequently collaborate with composerHenry Jackman (Winter Soldier,Civil War,Cherry,The Bluff). Stunt coordinator-turned-directorSam Hargrave began his work with the Russos as Chris Evans' stunt double, and was elevated to 2nd unit director on Marvel films before making his directorial debut withExtraction andExtraction 2 under the AGBO banner.[58]
In 2004, Anthony and Joe Russo won aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for the pilot episode ofArrested Development.[59]
In 2015, 2017 and 2019, they were nominated jointly for theSaturn Award for Best Director forCaptain America: The Winter Soldier,[60]Captain America: Civil War[61] andAvengers: Endgame,[62] respectively. In 2015, 2019 and 2020, they were nominated for theHugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation – Long Form forCaptain America: The Winter Soldier,Avengers: Infinity War andAvengers: Endgame, respectively. All nominations were shared with writersChristopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.[63][64][65] They receivedDragon Award nominations for "Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Movie" forCaptain America: Civil War in 2016 and forAvengers: Infinity War in 2018. The brothers won the Dragon Award in that category forAvengers: Endgame in 2019.[66]
On February 21, 2025, the Russo brothers were honored with the handprint and footprint ceremony in front ofGrauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. They were joined by family, friends and colleaguesChris Pratt,Yvette Nicole Brown andAlison Brie.[67]
In January 2025, Joe Russo was announced as a board member and investor of English football clubSheffield United. The club was taken over by the consortium group COH Sports led by fellow American businessmen Steve Rosen andHelmy Eltoukhy.[68] Joe was joined on the board of directors by formerCleveland Cavaliers CEOLen Komoroski and real estate figure Terry Ahern.[69]
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Directors | Producers | Writer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Pieces[a] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2002 | Welcome to Collinwood | Yes | No | Yes |
| 2006 | You, Me and Dupree | Yes | No | No |
| 2014 | Captain America: The Winter Soldier | Yes | No | No |
| 2016 | Captain America: Civil War | Yes | No | No |
| 2018 | Avengers: Infinity War | Yes | No | No |
| 2019 | Avengers: Endgame | Yes | No | No |
| 21 Bridges | No | Yes | No | |
| Mosul | No | Yes | No | |
| 2020 | Extraction | No | Yes | Story (Both) / Screenplay (Joe) |
| 2021 | Cherry | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2022 | The Gray Man | Yes | Yes | Joe |
| Everything Everywhere All at Once | No | Yes | No | |
| 2023 | Extraction 2 | No | Yes | Story (Both) / Screenplay (Joe) |
| 2025 | The Electric State | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2026 | The Bluff | No | Yes | No |
| Avengers: Doomsday† | Yes | Yes | No | |
| The Whisper Man† | No | Yes | No |
Executive producers only
Uncredited directors
| Year | Title | Director(s) | Executive producers | Episode(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Lucky | Yes | No | "Pilot", "Up the Streaks" |
| 2003–2005 | Arrested Development | Yes | No | Episodes Both: "Pilot" Anthony only: "Top Banana", "Key Decisions", "The Immaculate Election", "Spring Breakout" Joe only: "Bringing Up Buster", "In God We Trust", "Pier Pressure", "Marta Complex", "Shock and Aww", "Missing Kitty", "Hand to God", "Motherboy XXX", "Meat the Veals" |
| 2004–2005 | LAX | Yes | Yes | Episodes Both: "Pilot" Anthony only: "The Longest Day", "The Pictures to Prove It", "Mixed Signals" Joe only: "Finnegan Again, Begin Again", "Thanksgiving", "Senator's Daughter" 7 episodes |
| 2006 | What About Brian | Yes | No | "Pilot" |
| 2007–2008 | Carpoolers | Yes | Yes | Episodes Both: "Pilot" Anthony only: "The Code", "Wheel of Fortune", "The Recital" Joe only: "Laird of the Rings", "What Would You Do?", "Down for the Count", "A Divorce to Remember", "The Seminar", "The Handsomest Man", "Lost in America" 11 episodes |
| 2009 | Comedy Showcase | Yes | No | "The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret" |
| 2009–2014 | Community | Yes | Yes | Episodes Both: "Pilot" Anthony only: "Introduction to Film", "Social Psychology", "Home Economics", "The Politics of Human Sexuality", "Physical Education", "Beginner Pottery", "The Psychology of Letting Go", "Basic Rocket Science", "Asian Population Studies", "Custody Law and Eastern European Diplomacy", "Biology 101", "Competitive Ecology", "Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism" Joe only: "Spanish 101", "Advanced Criminal Law", "Football, Feminism and You", "Debate 109", "Investigative Journalism", "Romantic Expressionism", "Pascal's Triangle Revisited", "Anthropology 101", "Accounting for Lawyers", "Cooperative Calligraphy", "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons", "Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking", "Competitive Wine Tasting", "A Fistful of Paintballs", "For a Few Paintballs More", "Geography of Global Conflict", "Advanced Gay", "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux", "Geothermal Escapism", "Advanced Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" 34 episodes |
| 2010 | Running Wilde | Yes | Yes | "Pilot" |
| The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret | Yes | No | OriginalComedy Showcase Pilot | |
| 2011–2012 | Happy Endings | Yes | Yes | Episodes Both: "Pilot" Anthony only: "Barefoot Pedaler", "Blax, Snake, Home", "Secrets and Limos" Joe only: "Bo Fight", "Yesandwitch", "The St. Valentine's Day Massacre" 7 episodes |
| Up All Night | Joe | No | Episodes
| |
| 2012 | Animal Practice | Yes | Yes | Episodes Both: "Pilot" Anthony only: "Clean-Smelling Pirate" Joe only: "Ralphie" 3 episodes |
| 2015 | Agent Carter | Joe | No | Episode: "Bridge and Tunnel" (as Joseph V. Russo) |
| 2019 | Deadly Class | No | Yes | 10 episodes |
| Larry Charles' Dangerous World of Comedy | No | Yes | 4 episodes | |
| 2022–present | From | No | Yes | 20 episodes |
| 2023–present | Citadel | Joe | Yes | Director of Season 2 |
Other
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Arrested Development | Joe | Episode: "Hand to God" |
| 2006 | You, Me and Dupree | Personal Trainer | |
| 2014 | Captain America: The Winter Soldier | Dr. Fine | |
| 2016 | Captain America: Civil War | Dr. Theo Broussard | |
| 2018 | Avengers: Infinity War | Bert | Deleted scene |
| 2019 | Avengers: Endgame | Grieving Man | Credited as Gozie Agbo |
| Thanos[71] | Additional motion-capture only, uncredited | ||
| 2020 | The Simpsons | Movie Executive (voice) | Episode: "Bart the Bad Guy" |
| 2021 | Cherry | Restaurant Owner | |
| 2022 | The Gray Man | CIA DDO Fine | |
| 2025 | The Electric State | CNN Reporter / Various Robots (voice) |
I was born in February of 1970 and Joe was born in the hood of Brooklyn, New York. I am the top shot.
The Russo and Gallupoli families ... emigrated from the humble villages of Longi and Caccamo, Sicily, and Spoltore, Abruzzo
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
