10 years after Captain America: The Winter Soldier, directors the Russo Brothers share their favorite MCU memories
Apr. 23, 2024Exclusive | The Russo Brothers reflect on the 10th anniversary of the beloved superhero film which started their MCU careers
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Last month,Captain America: The Winter Soldiercelebrated its 10th anniversary - a film many cite as thebest MCU movieto date.
Not only did it set a new precedent for the much beloved superhero franchise, but it also introduced director duo the Russo Brothers to that world, one which they would then continue to play a crucial role in.
After impressingMarvel Studiospresident Kevin Feige with the impressive action, storytelling, and general brilliance of the second Captain America movie, the pair were handed the reins to bothAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgame(as well asCaptain America: Civil War).
Reflecting on the film which started their remarkable MCU journey during a conversation with GamesRadar+ at theSands: International Film Festivalin St Andrews, Scotland, it’s very clear that the Russos have fond memories of The Winter Soldier.
As Anthony notes, “more and more people” kept coming on-board during their MCU journey. However, despite the increasingly growing sheer size of the cast and crew lists on their Marvel movies, the Russos emphasize that it always felt like family - just one that so happened to be particularly big.
When asking the pair which aspect of their MCU careers particularly stands out as a highlight, the answer was all about family. Anthony explained why: “Family is really important to us. We grew up in a big Italian family and we have always seen our movies and our work as an extension of our family. If you’re gonna go spend time away from the ones you love, you want it to be with other people that you love. The thing that stands out to me most is how long our relationships have lasted coming out of those movies - our creative collaborators, our actor friends, everyone that we worked with, we still spend a great deal of time with them, are very close to them, and share a lot of memories with them.”
Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter
Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox
On those films, the Russo Brothers have attempted to continue with something that they also call a “stand-out experience” from their time with the MCU - which is how those movies were in conversation with fans.
As Joe emphasizes, they always aim for their films to be “in dialogue with the audience”, adding “that’s how we’ve always approached it and you can see this in different ways through our work”.
Elaborating further, Anthony points to Avengers: Endgame as a specific example of where audiences have connected with a film on another level, saying he’s never experienced screenings quite like it before. He concludes: “We like active audiences because we grew up as film fans and as pop culture fans in general. We love the way that fandoms can make storytelling their own and the creative process that you can bring to it as a fan. To be able to sit in those movie theaters, for Avengers: Endgame, and to feel the volume and the energy, and just that intensity of audience reaction within a movie theater, I don’t think Joe and I had ever experienced that level of intensity before in a theater. And that was special.”
Keep your eyes peeled for more from our exclusive interview with the Russo Brothers on our website throughout the week.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is available to stream now onDisneyPlus. For more from the world of the MCU, check out our guides tohow to watch the Marvel movies in orderand all of theupcoming Marvel movies and shows.
As Entertainment Editor at GamesRadar, I oversee all the online content for Total Film and SFX magazine. Previously I’ve worked for the BBC, Zavvi, UNILAD, Yahoo, Digital Spy and more.
When is Kraven the Hunter out on streaming?
Kraven the Hunter called a “drag”, “disappointment”, and a “waste of Aaron Taylor Johnson” in first reactions to new Sony Marvel movie
My Talking Angela 2 Unveils All-New Fashion Editor Feature
