Russo Brothers: ‘There Were Early Conversations’ About Joining Kevin Feige’s ‘Star Wars’ Movie

Anthony and Joe Russo conquered the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the record-breaking blockbuster Avengers: Endgame (their fourth Marvel movie after Captain America: The Winter Solider, Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War), and it turns out the Star Wars franchise couldve been next. During an appearance on the Smartless podcast (via Total Film magazine), Joe Russo confirmed that the brothers had early talks about signing on for Marvel president Kevin Feiges Star Wars movie. The project has since been shelved.

We love Star Wars,' Joe Russo said. Kevin Feige is a huge Star Wars fan, and there were some early conversations about maybe teaming up with Kevin to do Star Wars.'

Feiges Star Wars movie was announced in September 2019. At the time, rumors were swirling that Disney intended to replace Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy with Feige, the key figure in launching the studios Marvel Cinematic Universe. Such rumors were incorrect, but Feige was developing a Star Wars movie and brought in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness writer Michael Waldron to pen the script.

Waldron told Varietyin May 2022 thathed started workingon Feiges Star Wars script, adding, Im enjoying having the freedom on that to do something thats not necessarily a sequel or anything.

By October 2022, Feige had hired Waldron to pen the screenplay for the upcoming Marvel movie Avengers: Secret Wars. The 2025 tentpole will function as an Avengers: Endgame-style culmination of the current phase of Marvel movies. When Waldrons Secret Wars hiring broke, fans wondered what that meant for Feiges Star Wars movie. Variety reported in March 2023 that Feiges project had been indefinitely shelved at Lucasfilm.

Feige is hardly the first major creator in recent years to develop a Star Wars movie that didnt get off the ground. Patty Jenkins teamed up with Lucasfilm to develop Rogue Squadron, but she left the project over creative differences. The film remains shelved. Lost and The Leftovers creator Damon Lindelof was also brought in to develop a Star Wars movie to be directed by Ms. Marvel helmer Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Lindelof exited the project and was replaced by Steven Knight. It was later revealed that Obaid-Chinoys film will bring Daisy Ridleys Rey back to the franchise and serve as a sequel of sorts to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

I was in more than talks to join the Star Wars universe, Lindelof told Esquire last month. I joined the Star Wars universe and was asked to leave.

The Russo Brothers currently have no Marvel or Star Wars projects lined up. Theyre executive producers on Prime Videos new spy series Citadel, and theyre also in post-production on a new Netflix original movie called The Electric State, which stars Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt.