Russo Brothers Reportedly Scrapped Loki Creator’s Script for Avengers: Doomsday
Avengers: Doomsday represents a major shift in direction for the Marvel Cinematic Universe following the abandonment of the Kang the Conqueror story arc. A new report claims directors Joe and Anthony Russo went all out to aid that shift by completely revamping the original screenplay for the anticipated sequel.
According to Hollywood scooper Daniel Richtman (via ComicBookMovie.com), the Russo brothers have scrapped the original Doomsday script written by Loki creator Michael Waldron. Waldron initially penned the screenplay for the upcoming Avengers sequel, when it was known as The Kang Dynasty and Avengers 5, working alongside Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania scribe Jeff Loveness. Richtman claims that once the next Avengers installment transformed into Doomsday, the Russos axed Waldron’s script, doing it from scratch.
The Russo brothers’ reported decision to overhaul the Doomsday script makes sense considering the creative shift Avengers has undergone in the last year and change. The next Avengers film and its sequel, Secret Wars, first revolved around Jonathan Majors’ Kang following an impressive big-screen debut in Quantumania. However, when Marvel fired Majors following his assault and harassment conviction regarding a domestic incident with his then-girlfriend, the studio changed course and opted for a new baddie to replace Kang in Robert Downey Jr.’s Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom.
Michael Waldron Also Wrote the Doctror Strange Sequel
Along with being Loki’s brainchild, Waldron is also known for writing Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which performed admirably critically and commercially. However, the Doctor Strange sequel sparked fan complaints about its story and apparent vilification of the Scarlet Witch’s actions. Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus, known for writing multiple Captain America and Avengers entries alongside the Russos, are responsible for Doomsday’s screenplay.
Having directed the last two Avengers movies, the record-breaking Infinity War and Endgame, the Russos returned to the MCU last summer alongside Downey Jr. when Doomsday was announced at San Diego Comic-Con. The duo initially turned down a Marvel comeback before being convinced by the story the studio hoped to tell in the sequel. The brothers hope to make Doomsday and Secret Wars as memorable as the last two Avengers entries, which each eclipsed the $2 billion mark at the global box office.
Along with Downey Jr.’s return as a baddie following his acclaimed run as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Doomsday will also feature Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange, The Fantastic Four, Anthony Mackie’s Captain America and Chris Evans in an undisclosed role. The Russos confirmed Doomsday production would begin this spring, though the latest screenplay news explains rumors about a delay in getting the script ready for the planned shoot.
