Christopher Markus On Why He's Not Writing AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY And SECRET WARS; Talks Multiverse Saga Struggles

Christopher Markus On Why He's Not Writing AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY And SECRET WARS; Talks Multiverse Saga Struggles

Avengers: Endgame writer Christopher Markus has broken his silence on not reuniting with Stephen McFeely to pen Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, and shares his take on the Multiverse Saga's struggles.

By JoshWilding - Mar 08, 2025 07:03 AM EST
Filed Under: Avengers: Doomsday
Source: The Playlist

Avengers: Endgame's creative team, directors Joe and Anthony Russo and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, recently reunited for Netflix's The Electric State. Unfortunately, that hasn't gone too well for them

The foursome also collaborated on Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, and Avengers: Infinity War. In recent years, they've all been focused on producing content through AGBO but Joe, Anthony, and Stephen will return to the MCU for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars

Talking to The Playlist, Markus finally broke his silence on his decision to give those movies a miss. 

"It’s the simple fact of opportunity really," he told the site. "When we started AGBO, part of the imperative was let’s look for things to adapt, ideas of our own. And by luck or preference, I wound up with a whiteboard full of things—two series of books that we had optioned, a spec script. about three or four other ideas and a TV pilot that was there to be written. And this was prior to all that 'Avenging' coming on the horizon."

"But it got to the point where it was like, 'Look, I need to grow these plants or they’re going to die,' And [Marvel] is very extremely full-time. And so, I just said, 'Let’s just everybody be under the understanding that this is what I’m doing because [those movies] need a brain on them. They need a guide and I love them,'" he continued. "So, when it came Avenging time—I mean, you don’t Avenge part-time, you don’t do anything Marvel part-time. That is a years-long commitment."

Markus also confirmed that he isn't currently working with Marvel Studios in any capacity. There have been rumblings about the Russo Brothers consulting on the Mutant Saga - and perhaps even helming the X-Men reboot - but it appears the writer is happier focusing on AGBO.

Elsewhere in the conversation, he addressed what many have argued is a decline in quality for the MCU since Avengers: Endgame concluded the Infinity Saga in 2019. 

"After we left, in a way, I think Marvel has become, not positively or negatively, more like the comics," Markus explained. "During our time there, it was more of a straight-line narrative. I mean, you had a million other things going on, but when you look at the comics, those things are in the same universe, but it is a diffuse, non-linear, organic expansion of the story."

"And I think that what’s been happening at Marvel is that it has just been kind of growing outward and that’s not bad or good. And in some ways, it’s kind of what you need in order to have new things. In order to hopefully bring things together again, you need to let them grow up."

It turns out that not even the opportunity to write scenes for Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom was enough to convince Markus to return. "No, I was like, ‘That’s very clever, but that’s a lot of work.' I got nothing against work, but that’s also work I’ve done. Not necessarily with Doctor Doom, but you know, you can’t have all."

Markus spent several years of his career entrenched in the MCU and we know that's not an easy task for any filmmaker. No one can really blame him for choosing to focus on AGBO, regardless of the mixed fortunes the production company has had since launching.

Avengers: Doomsday is set to be released in May 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars scheduled to arrive in May 2027. 

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SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 3/8/2025, 7:16 AM
So basically, he either earned a lot or not enough money thanks to MCU.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 3/8/2025, 1:13 PM
@SpiderParker - I still think it has to do with the story. If he was hyped about the story and had faith it would be great, I can't see him not doing it. What else is he doing otherwise, electric robot movies on netflix?
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 3/8/2025, 1:34 PM
@McMurdo - That logic doesn't work for the person writing the story. You could say that about a director or an actor, but not the writer, whose job is to make the story work. It's more likely that either the effort he put into the last ones wasn't worth the pay, or he was paid so well he didn't feel the need to try as hard again.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 3/8/2025, 2:08 PM
@SpiderParker - Markus isn't writing the story. I highly doubt McFeely and the Russos didn't bring the rough idea they had for why Downey is Doom and how its going to play out to Markus. I'd say about a zero percent chance actually.
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 3/8/2025, 9:43 PM
@McMurdo - Markus isn't writing the story is an after the fact. You are treating as if Russos and McFeely are the one hiring (Boss?) Markus. If a rough idea was brought on, it would have been by Marvel, or them together. Most likely Markus worked on it in some capacity before parting ways, which is what you probably meant, but if he worked on it and had doubts, he can fix it. Its not a lack of faith in the story, it is indeed as he said here that he wants to do other things with his time. (Read: Better things to do for the hard work and money involved)
McMurdo
McMurdo - 3/8/2025, 10:56 PM
@SpiderParker - brother, the Russos' quite literally have said they were asked to do these films, went to dinner with Downey, but denied the offer because they didn't see a way in. They they are quoted as saying they cracked the story with McFely and signed on to do the film but without Markus. Markus has not touched this in any capacity. It's always been McFeely. But you can bet your bottom dollar he was asked to come on, was given the breakdown of the story direction McFeely and the Russos were taking it, and then denied coming on board. The question is why. I pose that, whether he was letting it on or not to his creative teams (again Russos, McFely) that he didn't feel as passionately about the idea as they did. If he was doing something more than his AGBO stuff, something with more weight, I'd feel my take on it would be less likely. But he's not. And he hasn't written anything special in some time. he's known because of his Marvel output. So turning down continuing that with the 3 other guys you made your name with....you're welcome to feel he's been upfront here that's fine. I don't buy it.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 3/8/2025, 7:27 AM
So he didn't wanna do it because he wanted to do a TV pilot more.
User Comment Image
Usernametaken
Usernametaken - 3/8/2025, 8:32 AM
@ObserverIO - You have seen phase 4 and 5 right?
And you know how much pressure there is on those Avengers movies right?

I would have done the same.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 3/8/2025, 9:00 AM
@Usernametaken - True, Phase 4 and 5 are almost as mid as most of AGBOs output. Not quite, but almost.

However when Marvel and the AGBO creatives get together we get Winter Soldier, Civil War, Infinity War and Endgame. Not too shabby.
IAmAHoot
IAmAHoot - 3/8/2025, 8:10 AM
Sacrificing multiple things you're passionate about versus a good opportunity that will leave you with a lasting sense of unfulfillment in the end... can't say he made the wrong choice.
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 3/8/2025, 10:31 AM
@IAmAHoot -

🤝
BigBang119
BigBang119 - 3/8/2025, 11:55 AM
@IAmAHoot - That’s a tough call, but sometimes following what truly fulfills you is worth more than any "good" opportunity.
MotherGooseUPus
MotherGooseUPus - 3/8/2025, 8:17 AM
Well.. at least now I finally know the answer. Good for him for doing what he wants.. with that said.. he will be sorely missed and I hope dooms day and secret wars are of the same quality as IW and Endgame
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 3/8/2025, 8:34 AM
Guess we'll just have to make do with the Fantastic Three.
Latverian
Latverian - 3/8/2025, 10:25 AM
@ObserverIO - Urge to re-read F4 #588 intensifies...
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 3/8/2025, 10:33 AM
@ObserverIO -

More like Fantastic One, at best.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 3/8/2025, 11:07 AM
@Latverian - I'm gonna do a full re-read of the whole run before First Steps comes out. At least I think I'm gonna, lol, I plan to.

@MakeAmericaGrea - Which one?
McMurdo
McMurdo - 3/8/2025, 1:14 PM
@ObserverIO - he doesn't know
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/8/2025, 8:40 AM
I mean , I can understand that…

Life’s sadly short and it seems the opportunity to do his own ideas or adapt other material he might love into movies and/or shows was just more enticing to him then another dip in the MCU which him & McFeely had been working in since atleast 2010 or so with TFA (the only non MCU thing they had done during their tenure was Pain & Gain) so I get that & wish him the best!!.

Also he’s right , the MCU has become more like the comics in terms of expanding outwards rather then the films-only narrative they had during their Infinity Saga which was fairly linear hence it can feel all over the place now…

It’s why I think audiences have or still need to adapt to this new approach by picking & choosing like comic readers do the “titles” they want to follow or not.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 3/8/2025, 8:49 AM

I wish he was back in the fold trying to help rescue the MCU, but that is a massive several years commitment he has experienced before. He just didn't want to give up so much of his life to do that again. I respect his decision.


gambgel
gambgel - 3/8/2025, 10:19 AM
Makes perfect sense to be honest.

If you create your own company (thanks to working with Marvel during many years) then you want to focus and expand your own company and projects, and dont abandon it during 2 years, you know?

Make some sense, cbm users.
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 3/8/2025, 10:39 AM
Avengers 6 and 7, more flicks to boycott to bring about an MCU reboot.

How's Craptain UnAmerican: New World Order doing?

Budget
$320 million

Box office
$346.5 million
Nolanite
Nolanite - 3/8/2025, 11:24 AM
@MakeAmericaGrea - it looks even worse when someone points it out for me.

I feel no pity for them.
AllsNotGood
AllsNotGood - 3/8/2025, 10:57 AM
#makecaptainamericagreatagain
Nolanite
Nolanite - 3/8/2025, 11:23 AM
Smart guy.

Jumped ship before it sinks to the bottom of the ocean.

Cashed out before his name is tarnished just like the other assholes.

Respect to that guy.

Nolanite out
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 3/8/2025, 11:36 AM
he knows when the time has come to move on. Disney should realize it.
Timerider
Timerider - 3/8/2025, 12:30 PM
When writing these Marvel movies, you have one hand tied behind your back. There’s limitations that you must adhere to when writing these stories. I personally wouldn’t want to do it either, it’s nerve racking.
1stDalek
1stDalek - 3/8/2025, 2:31 PM
Well someone has to hold down the fort while the team drops everything to go do Avengers for 2-3 years.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 3/9/2025, 5:27 AM
@1stDalek - and he drew the short straw.
1stDalek
1stDalek - 3/10/2025, 5:14 PM
@ObserverIO - for sure
gulducati
gulducati - 3/8/2025, 2:42 PM
Good for him. An actual thoughtful professional working in Hollywood.
CreateNowSlpL8r
CreateNowSlpL8r - 3/8/2025, 4:54 PM
Translation: It was different when they partly led the narrative with WS, CW, IW, etc. Without that guiding hand, someone has to piece together this shit show that will have tons of pressure on it.

Civil War kind of reset Tony's arc a bit but played brilliantly into what came before. Maybe thats what the Russos are good at. They haven't had nearly as much success without Steve and Tony. Obviously, it was great pairing. Great actors with people who really understood the characters but IW and Endgame are not without their faults. Hulk and Fat Thor for example. You can also kind of blame them for such a complex take on time travel which really boxed Marvel in. Marvel comics was able to do the incursions and Secret Wars 2015 without this time travel issue and its why the MCU gets Kang so wrong.

Phase 4/5 not only have mostly characters no one cares about but also lacks the good writing, character arcs that the Russos, McFeely, and Marcus were able to build on.
Typhoon20
Typhoon20 - 3/8/2025, 6:24 PM
I wish he was truly honest but can't hold that against him I bet he'd be blacklisted from many places if he was truly honest lol.

Let's be real, the same writers that did Infinity War did the Electric state aka one of the worst films.
What's my point ? I think Russo bros and their writers get a lot more credit than they actually deserve imo. A lot of what made those films decent was the team behind those projects. It wasn't just the directors/writers.Most of the directors/writers that made the best mcu films haven't been able to recreate that magic again. That can't be a coincidence. I think Disney let Marvel do his thing back in the day and the passionate people ran it and it was a success then Disney saw the money they were making and was more hands on to milk more money which is causing their downfall.

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