ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — In a surprise revelation at the Sands Film Festival, director Joe Russo has unveiled plans for a theatrical re-release of the blockbuster Avengers: Endgame, set to hit screens on September 25 with never-before-seen footage tied to the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. The announcement, made via Zoom from the United States, comes on the heels of Disney's CinemaCon presentation in Las Vegas, where the re-release was first teased but left details vague.
Russo, speaking during a session moderated by Deadline's Mike Fleming and joined by Angela Russo-Otstot, the chief creative officer at the directors' production company AGBO, described the added content as a pivotal link between the two Marvel films. "It’s critically important to re-release the movie, and, in fact, we’ll be re-releasing the film with footage that is set in the Doomsday story that we have added to Avengers: Endgame," Russo told the packed audience at the festival in St. Andrews, Scotland, on Saturday night. The event marked the opening of the festival's milestone fifth edition, which kicked off with John Carney's musical comedy Power Ballad.
The re-release represents a rare opportunity for the Russo brothers—Joe and Anthony—to extend the narrative of one of the highest-grossing films in history. Avengers: Endgame, released in 2019, concluded Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and centered on the heroes' battle against Josh Brolin's Thanos, who had decimated half of all life in the universe in the preceding film, Avengers: Infinity War. The movie's epic conclusion saw several character arcs wrap up, including the sacrifice of Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, in a bid to defeat the Mad Titan.
According to Russo, the new footage will serve as a "bridge from Endgame to Doomsday in a very unique way." He emphasized the financial and creative advantages of revisiting the film, noting, "You don’t always get the chance to re-release because it costs money, so the fact that we can enhance the story of Doomsday by bridging it to Endgame and these characters that we worked with for years that we love so much, and continue their story: It’s a really unique opportunity."
Russo further characterized the re-release as a "critical companion story" and a "setup for what you’re gonna watch in December when you see Avengers: Doomsday." The sequel, slated for a December release, marks the return of Downey Jr., but not as the heroic Iron Man. Instead, the actor will portray the villainous Dr. Doom, a multiverse variant that promises to upend the MCU's dynamics.
The decision for Downey's reprisal stems from discussions that began around two to two-and-a-half years ago, Russo revealed. "Downey started contemplating his return about 2 years ago, maybe 2.5 years ago," he said. "I was at dinner with him in New York, and he had mentioned to me that he was thinking about this, and the concept was for him to play the ultimate villain. He played the ultimate hero, and now he’s going to play the ultimate villain. I thought it was a very clever idea."
Russo credited a collaboration with longtime Marvel screenwriter Stephen McFeely for solidifying the story structure that accommodates Downey's return. The directors reconnected with McFeely after stepping away from Marvel projects following Endgame, which grossed over $2.799 billion worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing film of all time internationally with $1.94 billion—trailing only James Cameron's Avatar at $2.138 billion globally. Endgame also holds the record for the biggest opening weekend ever, pulling in $1.2 billion around the globe.
"The ultimate reward is fostering community at a time where community is in short supply," Russo said, reflecting on Marvel's broader impact. He argued that the studio's films have uniquely brought audiences together, creating a sense of shared experience in theaters that few other franchises have achieved.
The Sands Film Festival session occurred amid a flurry of MCU updates at CinemaCon earlier that week. Disney showcased a new trailer for Avengers: Doomsday, highlighting Steve Rogers—Captain America—returning as the Avengers confront their most formidable foe yet. The trailer underscored the high stakes, with Dr. Doom positioned as a central antagonist in a story inspired by the serialized nature of Marvel comics.
"Serialized storytelling is the goal here," Russo explained. "That’s the fun, that’s the mission, alongside making movies that bring people together. I’d argue there are very few movie companies in history that have brought people together the way that Marvel movies have, fostering a sense of community in a theater." This approach mirrors the comic book origins, where ongoing narratives span multiple issues and allow for evolving character developments.
The re-release news arrives as Marvel navigates a post-Endgame landscape, with the MCU expanding into multiverse territory through projects like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and the Loki series on Disney+. Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, was instrumental in Downey's casting as Dr. Doom, according to Russo, following "a long conversation between Marvel, Kevin Feige, and Robert."
While the exact nature of the added Doomsday footage remains under wraps to avoid spoilers, Russo's comments suggest it will deepen the lore connecting the films. Festival attendees in St. Andrews reacted enthusiastically, with the session drawing a full house despite Russo's remote participation, delayed by his commitments in Las Vegas.
Beyond the MCU, the entertainment industry faces its own battles. The session at Sands coincided with ongoing Hollywood strikes, including the WGA West staff voting to continue their action as the standoff reaches the two-month mark. Separately, a judge has frozen Tegna's merger amid antitrust concerns, with an appeal vowed, and casting news emerged for The Batman Part II, with Charles Dance joining Robert Pattinson in the DC Studios sequel.
Box office trends also provide context for the re-release's potential success. Recent weekends have seen Super Mario maintaining dominance with $30 million, while Lee Cronin's The Mummy opened to $13 million. Endgame's enduring popularity—bolstered by its role in wrapping major arcs—positions it well to draw crowds once more, especially with the lure of exclusive footage.
Looking ahead, the re-release on September 25 could reignite fan fervor ahead of Doomsday's December debut, potentially setting new benchmarks for legacy content in a streaming-dominated era. Russo's emphasis on community underscores Marvel's strategy to leverage theatrical experiences, even as the industry grapples with evolving distribution models. As the MCU charts its next phase, this bridge between past and future triumphs highlights the franchise's knack for reinvention.
For fans, the opportunity to revisit Endgame on the big screen with fresh insights into Dr. Doom's world offers a tantalizing preview. Russo concluded his remarks by stressing the emotional weight of continuing these stories: characters the team has nurtured for over a decade, now evolving in unexpected ways. With Avatar still holding the all-time crown at $2.924 billion, Endgame's re-release might not shatter records but could solidify its cultural legacy.