Joe Russo films Avengers: Doomsday with no final script

Joe Russo says Marvel’s next Avengers film, *Avengers: Doomsday*, went into production this month without a finished script. The co-director told the Associated Press that he and his brother Anthony see scripts as “living organisms,” not fixed documents. Their approach relies on improvisation and rehearsals, letting actors shape their roles as shooting progresses.

This isn’t the first time the Russo brothers have worked this way. They used similar methods on *Avengers: Endgame* and *Avengers: Infinity War*, where reshoots and last-minute rewrites were common. Marvel’s fast production cycles and sprawling storylines often push writers to finalize scripts while filming is already underway, a practice that has drawn criticism from some actors in the past. But the Russos defend it as a way to keep performances fresh and collaborative.

The film is expected to be the climax of Marvel’s Phase 6, wrapping up major storylines that have run for more than a decade. With a cast of over 30 returning stars, including Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, the pressure to deliver a satisfying finale is intense. Marvel has already delayed the movie twice, pushing its release to mid-2026. Insiders say the unfinished script reflects Marvel’s usual approach—script polish continues even as cameras roll—but this time, the stakes are higher than ever.

What happens next isn’t clear. The Russos say they’ll refine the story as they go, trusting their rehearsal process to fill gaps. But if the film misses its scheduled date again, Marvel may face tough questions about whether its signature improvisation style is sustainable as franchises grow and budgets balloon. Either way, *Avengers: Doomsday* is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable big-budget movies ever made.