As of March 10, 2025, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is gearing up for what promises to be its most ambitious chapter yet, with the Russo brothers—Anthony and Joe—returning to helm Avengers: Secret Wars. In a recent interview with Collider on March 05, Joe Russo confirmed that the film, set to cap Phase Six of the MCU on May 7, 2027, will clock in at exactly three hours. This runtime aligns it with their previous epic, Avengers: Endgame, which ran 182 minutes and remains the longest MCU film to date. The announcement has sent waves through the fandom, signaling that Secret Wars will be a sprawling, monumental event designed to tie together years of multiversal storytelling, much like Endgame did for the Infinity Saga. With production slated to begin in mid-2026 in London, the Russo brothers are poised to deliver another cinematic juggernaut.

The confirmation of a three-hour runtime came as part of a broader discussion about Secret Wars and its predecessor, Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for May 1, 2026, with an estimated two-and-a-half-hour length. Joe Russo, speaking alongside Anthony, said, “If I were a betting man, I’d say the first one is two and a half, and the second one’s three hours.” This precision reflects their confidence in the scope of these films, which will conclude the Multiverse Saga—a narrative arc spanning Phases Four through Six. Secret Wars, in particular, is being positioned as the pinnacle, drawing inspiration from the 1984 and 2015 Marvel Comics events of the same name. The latter, penned by Jonathan Hickman, features multiverse collisions, incursions, and Doctor Doom as a godlike figure, elements that seem tailor-made for the MCU’s current trajectory.

The Russo brothers’ track record lends weight to their ambitious vision. Having directed Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Endgame—four of the MCU’s highest-grossing films—they’ve proven adept at juggling massive ensembles and intricate plots. Endgame’s three-hour runtime was a necessity to wrap up over a decade of storytelling, delivering emotional payoffs for characters like Tony Stark and Steve Rogers. Secret Wars, they suggest, will dwarf even that scale. “These are gonna be very, very big movies with a lot of characters and storylines coalescing,” Joe Russo told Collider, hinting at a cast that could span the MCU’s multiversal roster, from returning heroes to newcomers like the Fantastic Four, confirmed to appear after their 2025 debut.

Casting news has already sparked excitement. Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Doctor Doom, announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, flips his Iron Man legacy into a villainous new role, while Stephen McFeely, the Russos’ longtime collaborator, pens the script. The shift from the originally planned Avengers: The Kang Dynasty—scrapped after Jonathan Majors’ legal issues—pivots the saga toward Doom, a move fans see as both bold and fitting for Secret Wars’ comic roots. Posts on X reflect the anticipation, with one user noting, “3 hours feels right for an event this big—just make every minute count.” The Russo brothers seem aware of this demand, emphasizing a “challenging” story that’s taken years to crack, as Anthony revealed in a February 2025 Deadline interview.

The three-hour runtime also raises practical questions. Endgame’s length was justified by its climactic battles and farewells, but Secret Wars must balance spectacle with coherence across a potentially larger canvas—think Battleworld, a planet stitched from multiversal fragments. The Russos are taking precautions to preserve the mystery, planning extensive soundstage work and strategic location shoots to thwart leaks, as Joe explained: “We don’t want people getting photographs, so we’re being pretty stringent.” This secrecy underscores their intent to deliver a theatrical experience worth the wait, especially as superhero fatigue lingers after mixed Phase Five reception.

For fans, the runtime signals ambition but also expectation. Endgame’s success hinged on its emotional resonance, not just its scale, and Secret Wars will need to match that depth amid a crowded field of heroes, villains, and timelines. With Doomsday setting the stage—likely introducing Doom’s threat—the three-hour Secret Wars promises a payoff that could redefine the MCU. The Russo brothers, who once thought Endgame was their swan song, found a story “we need to tell,” as Anthony put it at Comic-Con. As filming nears, the clock ticks toward May 2027, when audiences will see if this three-hour epic can live up to its predecessor’s legacy—or forge a new one entirely.