The Russo Brothers – Community & Arrested Development
Of everyone on this list, the Russo Brothers (directors of The Winter Soldier) probably have the shortest track record. Marvel continue to let outsiders have their shot and continue to trust that quality is quality, whether shown over several decades, or off the back of relatively limited TV work.
Community and Arrested Development both have significant and very loyal fan bases and as superb as they both are, it is again hard to see what there was on their resume that made Marvel think – we should cut them loose with a 70’s-style espionage and conspiracy thriller and a $200m budget.
The Russos will return to direct the next instalment of Captain America’s solo adventures, which makes plenty of sense given how well Winter Soldier was generally received. That warm reception also goes to show that genuinely gifted directors do not need to show experience with large scale, big budgets or F/X and set-piece driven films to be trusted with and successful with what might be considered a “step up” to the big screen.
