OFFICIAL: RUSSO BROTHERS TO DIRECT TWO-PART "AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR"

Marvel has confirmed that Joe and Anthony Russo will direct the upcoming two-part "Avengers: Infinity War" film event. The directors have been the rumored frontrunners for the job since way back in November. In late March, the duo's involvement in "Infinity War" was reported as official by The Hollywood Reporter and Badass Digest. With this announcement, Marvel officially cements the Russos as the next "Avengers" directors.

The Russos first enlisted with Marvel for 2014's "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" and will return to helm 2016's "Captain America: Civil War." "Winter Soldier" went on to gross nearly $260 million domestically, outpacing its predecessor -- 2011's "Captain America: The First Avenger" -- by about $83 million. Nestled within the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise, the blockbuster "Avengers" franchise has so far been the brainchild of writer/director Joss Whedon. Whedon has been behind the camera for both 2012's "Marvel's the Avengers" and the upcoming "Avengers: Age of Ultron."

Unlike the preceding "Avengers" two films, "Avengers: Infinity War" will unfold in two parts towards the end of Marvel's Phase Three slate of films. "Avengers: Infinity War -- Part 1" will be released on May 4, 2018. "Avengers: Infinity War -- Part 2" will follow a nearly year later on May 3, 2019.

Source: www.comicbookresources.com