Joe Russo
Biography
Joseph Russo (born July 18, 1971) and his brother, Anthony Russo (born February 3, 1970), collectively known as the Russo brothers (/ˈruːsoʊ/ ROO-soh), are American directors, producers, and screenwriters. They direct most of their work together. They are best known for directing four films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU): Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Endgame grossed over $2.798 billion worldwide, briefly becoming the highest-grossing film of all time.
The brothers have also worked as directors and producers on the comedy series Arrested Development (2003–2005), Community (2009–2014), and Happy Endings (2011–2012). They won a Primetime Emmy Award for Arrested Development.
Joseph Russo (born July 18, 1971) was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, the sons of Patricia Gallupoli and attorney and judge Basil Russo. His parents are both of Italian descent. Their paternal and maternal families emigrated from Sicily and Abruzzo, respectively, and settled in Ohio. He attended Benedictine High School, graduated from the University of Iowa, and majored in English and writing.
The Russo brothers were graduate students at Case Western Reserve University (where Anthony studied law and Joe studied acting at UEA) when they began directing, writing, and producing their first feature, Pieces. They financed the film with student loans and credit cards. After viewing Pieces at the Slamdance Film Festival, Steven Soderbergh approached the duo and offered to produce their next film, along with his producing partner George Clooney. This project was the crime comedy Welcome to Collinwood, starring William H. Macy, Sam Rockwell, and Clooney.
FX network executive Kevin Reilly hired the Russos to direct the pilot for the series Lucky, having liked the pair's work on Collinwood. Ron Howard was a fan of the pilot, and he had a hand in hiring the brothers to direct the pilot for Fox's Arrested Development.
In 2017, the brothers founded the production company AGBO.
The Russo brothers directed Avengers: Infinity War (2018), which became the first superhero movie to gross over $2 billion at the box office. They are the third directors to make a $2 billion movie after James Cameron's films Avatar and Titanic and J. J. Abrams's Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Its sequel, Avengers: Endgame, was released on April 26, 2019, broke numerous box office records, and became the second superhero movie to gross over $2 billion. They join James Cameron as the only directors to make two $2 billion films.
The brothers are financing the Los Angeles and Beijing joint-production company Anthem & Song, which is producing the Chinese superhero film The Hero's Awakening.
The Russos also served as producers of the film Everything Everywhere All At Once, written and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. The film, released in theatres in March 2022, is A24's highest-grossing film worldwide at the box office.
At San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024, Marvel Studios announced that the Russo brothers would return to direct and also produce Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).
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