Russo brothers

Anthony and Joe Russo

Joe (left) and Anthony Russo at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con International
Occupation Film directors, producers, screenwriters, actors, film editors
Years active 1997–present

Anthony Russo and Joseph V. Russo are American film and television directors. The brothers direct most of their work jointly, and also occasionally work as producers, screenwriters, actors, and editors. The brothers directed the superhero films Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) and Captain America: Civil War (2016), and will be directing the two Avengers: Infinity War films. They won an Emmy Award for their work on the comedy series Arrested Development.

Biography

Anthony and Joe Russo were raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and attended Benedictine High School.[1] Their parents are Patricia and Basil Russo, an attorney and former judge.[2] The Russos were graduate students at Case Western Reserve University when they began directing, writing, and producing their first feature, Pieces. They financed the film with student loans and credit cards.[3] After viewing Pieces at a film festival, Steven Soderbergh approached the duo and offered to produce their next film, along with his producing partner George Clooney.[3] This project was the crime comedy Welcome to Collinwood, starring William H. Macy, Sam Rockwell, and Clooney.

FX network executive Kevin Reilly hired the Russos to direct the pilot for the series Lucky, having liked the pair's work on Collinwood.[3] Ron Howard was a fan of the pilot, and he had a hand in hiring the brothers to direct the pilot for Fox's Arrested Development.[3] The brothers won an Emmy for their work on the episode.

In 2006, the Russo brothers returned to film, directing the Owen Wilson comedy You, Me, and Dupree. The film grossed $140 million worldwide.[3] For the 2007–08 TV season, the Russos joined the crew of the ABC series Carpoolers as executive producers and directors. They served as executive producers and directors on the first several seasons of the NBC sitcom Community and the ABC series Happy Endings.

In July 2013, the brothers wrapped principal production on Captain America: The Winter Soldier, a superhero sequel for Marvel Studios; the film was released on April 4, 2014.[4]

The Russos cite the sitcoms M*A*S*H, Taxi, and Cheers as influences.[1] Their younger sister Angela Russo-Ostot also is in television, having worked as a writer and producer on V and Trust Me, among other series.[1]

In January 2014, the brothers signed on to return to direct the third Captain America film, Captain America: Civil War, which was released on May 6, 2016. In May 2014, they were announced to co-write and direct The Gray Man and in March 2015, the brothers were set to direct the reboot of Ghostbusters, produced by Sony's new-founded company, Ghost Corps.[5][6][7] However, as of March 2016, the Russos are no longer attached to the Ghostbusters project.[8] On March 23, 2015, it was confirmed that the Russo brothers will direct the two part Avengers: Infinity War, which are scheduled for release in 2018 and 2019.[9]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Credit(s)
2002 Welcome to Collinwood Directors
Writers
2006 You, Me and Dupree Directors
2014 Captain America: The Winter Soldier Directors
2014 A Merry Friggin' Christmas Executive Producers
2016 Captain America: Civil War Directors
2018 Avengers: Infinity War – Part I Directors
2019 Avengers: Infinity War – Part II Directors
TBA Untitled Ghostbusters project Producers
Short films
Year Title Credit(s)
2002 Kiss, TheThe Kiss Directors
Producers
Writers
2006 No. 6 Producer (Joe only)
2008 Square One Writer (Anthony only)
Carfuckers Directors
2009 Donkey Punch Producer (Anthony only)
2012 Leader of the Pack Producers
Television
Year Program Episode(s) Credit(s)
2003 Lucky "Calling Dr. Con" Directors
2003–05 Arrested Development Both: "Pilot"
Anthony only: "Top Banana", "Key Decisions", "The Immaculate Election", "Spring Breakout"
Joe only: "Bringing Up Buster", "In God We Trust", "Pier Pressure", "Marta Complex", "Shock and Aww", "Missing Kitty", "Hand to God", "Motherboy XXX", "Meet the Veals"
Directors
2004 LAX "Pilot" Directors
2004–05 All episodes Co-executive producers
2006 Secrets of a Small Town Failed ABC pilot Executive producers
What About Brian "Pilot" Directors
2006–07 All episodes Executive producers
2007–08 Carpoolers Both: "Pilot"
Anthony only: "The Code", "The Recital"
Joe only: "Laird of the Rings", "What Would You Do?", "Down for the Count", "The Seminar",
"A Divorce to Remember", "The Handsomest Man", "Lost in America"
Directors
All episodes Executive producers
2008 Courtroom K Failed Fox pilot Directors
2009 Untitled Family Pilot Failed NBC pilot Directors
Comedy Showcase "The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret" Directors
2009–2012, 2014 Community Both: Pilot
Anthony only: "Introduction to Film", "Social Psychology", "Home Economics", "The Politics of Human Sexuality", "Physical Education", "Beginner Pottery", "The Psychology of Letting Go", "Basic Rocket Science", "Asian Population Studies", "Custody Law and Eastern European Diplomacy", "Biology 101", "Competitive Ecology", "Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism"
Joe only: "Spanish 101", "Advanced Criminal Law", "Football, Feminism and You", "Debate 109", "Investigative Journalism", "Romantic Expressionism", "Pascal's Triangle Revisited", "Anthropology 101", "Accounting for Lawyers", "Cooperative Calligraphy", "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons", "Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking", "Competitive Wine Tasting", "A Fistful of Paintballs", "Geography of Global Conflict", "Advanced Gay", "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux", "Geothermal Escapism", "Advanced Advanced Dungeons & Dragons"
Directors
Seasons 1-3 and 5 Executive producers, directors only (season five)
2010 Running Wilde "Pilot" Directors
Executive producers
The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret "In Which Claims are Made and a Journey Ensues" (original Comedy Showcase pilot, some footage reshot) Directors
2011 The Council of Dads Fox pilot Directors
2011–2012 Happy Endings Both: "Pilot"
Anthony only: "Barefoot Pedaler", "Blax, Snake, Home", "Secrets and Limos"
Joe only: "Bo Fight", "Yesandwitch", "The St. Valentine's Day Massacre"
Directors
Season one & season two Executive producers
Up All Night Joe only: "Cool Neighbors", "Working Late and Working It", "Day After Valentine's Day" Directors
2012 Animal Practice Both: "Pilot"
Anthony only: "Clean-Smelling Pirate"
Directors
All episodes Executive producers
2015 Agent Carter Joe only: "Bridge and Tunnel" (as Joseph V. Russo) Directors

References

External links

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