Avengers: Doomsday Directors Share Insights on Filming Without a Completed Script

Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters this December, and Marvel Studios is banking on it to revive the Marvel Cinematic Universe after a few missteps like The Marvels, Captain America: Brave New World, and Thunderbolts. The studio is aiming for box office numbers that rival Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Endgame, which is why they’ve brought back the successful duo of Joe and Anthony Russo to direct Doomsday.

However, the Russo brothers began filming without a completed script after Marvel shifted away from its original Kang the Conqueror storyline due to controversies surrounding actor Jonathan Majors. In a recent interview, the Russos explained their decision to start shooting without a finalized script, emphasizing their reliance on on-set creativity.

Joe Russo defended this approach, stating that they are “improvisation-based, rehearsal-based directors” who enjoy seeing what actors contribute to their roles. The duo previously worked on the comedy series Community, known for its ad-libbed performances from actors like Donald Glover and Gillian Jacobs. Joe elaborated, saying:

“We always view the script as a living organism. We’re improvisation-based, rehearsal-based directors. We like to see what the actors bring to the characters, and sometimes you don’t get the actors until a few days or few weeks before you shoot them. And a lot of the time, that’s when the magic happens.”

As Avengers: Doomsday approaches, there are concerns about the film starting production without a complete script. While it’s not unheard of for Hollywood to begin filming under such circumstances, it can often result in disjointed narratives. The situation surrounding Doomsday adds to these worries.

Originally, the fifth Avengers film was planned as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, but it was reworked after Jonathan Majors, cast as Kang, faced legal issues. Production was rebooted with the Russos stepping in mid-project, and since Doomsday is an unexpected shift, it may not have the same buildup as its predecessors.

Another point of concern is the Russo brothers’ recent projects, which have not fared well with critics. Their last three films—Cherry, The Gray Man, and The Electric State—have received poor ratings, with The Electric State currently sitting at just 14% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Avengers: Doomsday will also face tough competition upon its release on December 18, coinciding with Dune: Part 3.

Marvel’s upcoming blockbuster is deep into filming without a finished script, but is this really that unusual for the MCU?