Avengers: Doomsday sees the return of so many great people to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the Russo brothers, but the response to their latest film has me worried. Joe and Anthony Russo have been in the news quite a bit lately, with their comments about the prospect of casting Millie Bobby Brown in the MCU and further teases about their future Avengers projects garnering much attention. I’m still excited to see them return to the series, but their work in the intervening years, especially with the launch of this latest film, has me concerned.

Joe and Anthony Russo have directed some of the best MCU movies of all time, although the directors have struggled to connect with audiences outside the franchise. Prior to the MCU timeline, they directed a couple of smaller films, including You, Me, and Dupree, and worked on some excellent television, including Community and Arrested Development. Since finding success with Marvel, however, their directorial work has changed. Cherry and The Gray Man both failed to meet expectations, and it seems that their next project may not connect as well.

The Russo Brothers’ The Electric State Looked To Have All The Ingredients Of A Major Hit

The Stars, Directors, Writers And More Seemed Great

The Electric State is a new Netflix movie that reunites Joe and Anthony Russo with writers Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus. The four worked together on their Marvel projects, and McFeely is set to write Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, which has been described as a “very intense process” by the Russo brothers. With just these pieces, I’ve been hoping to see a return to greatness for the Russos. The project brings in an excellent cast and adapts an incredible and unique visual work by Simon Stålenhag.

The setting of the film is unusual and refreshing, with the story taking place in an alternate world with displaced technology laying about everywhere. The film also features an incredible cast. Many have hoped Star-Lord would appear in Avengers: Doomsday which seems likelier after actor Chris Pratt starred in The Electric State, as Pratt appears in the Russo-led project alongside Millie Bobby Brown, Woody Harrelson, Anthony Mackie, and many more. The film was developed as a Netflix movie, and I’ve been looking forward to seeing it, although that excitement has recently become tempered.

The Electric State’s Reviews Paint A Different Picture Of The Movie

The Film’s Reviews Have Not Been Kind

Unfortunately, despite having all the right pieces, reviews for The Electric State do not bode well for its overall results. The film has been described as derivative and underdeveloped, with some of the criticisms focusing on issues with how the film deviates from the source material. Despite great components, it seems that little of the film actually lives up to its promise, and The Electric State currently holds a low and disappointing 19% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

Critical responses to films can often deviate significantly from the audience, and it is possible that audiences will respond better to the Netflix film in the coming days. However, this is not a good sign. I hoped that the recent failures the Russos faced would be corrected with this return to science-fiction popcorn cinema. All of the pieces that point toward success are there, making this response extremely disappointing, though hopefully Avengers: Doomsday can avoid repeating the 2025 film’s reception.

The Electric State’s Reviews Are Worrying With Avengers: Doomsday So Near

The Directors Clearly Do Not Make Great Movies Every Single Time

The Russo brothers are returning for Avengers: Doomsday, and the movie is set to start filming very soon, making the timing of The Electric State seem especially concerning. The Marvel Cinematic Universe brand has suffered in recent years, with The Marvels being their biggest flop ever, and arguably Captain America: Brave New World failed to connect as much as the studio hoped. The return of the Russos to the MCU seemed like a great thing, but examining their recent work might suggest otherwise.

It’s strange that the Russo brothers have been able to make such incredible Marvel films, while failing to connect so much outside the franchise. However, it was also the case before they joined the MCU. You, Me, and Dupree, the movie they made right before Captain America: The Winter Soldier, holds a 20% Rotten Tomatoes score. This suggests that perhaps the Russos work best within Marvel’s set studio structure. With all of the duo’s work in the MCU being successful, the recent responses to their films may not be as bad for Doomsday as it seems.

I’m not nearly ready to give up on Avengers: Doomsday, which I have hopes to be a return to greatness for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, seeing the Russo brothers struggle to make widely-loved films in the intervening years is a difficult sign, especially as I was really looking forward to The Electric State. Still, the Marvel brand has been where the Russos have thrived, and there is still reason to be hopeful that Avengers: Doomsday lives up to the greatness of the MCU’s past.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
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  MCU Spider-Man 4

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