The Russo Brothers Are Building a High Tech Studio Because They Want AI to Help Artists, Not Replace Them
Anthony and Joe Russo, the directors behind Avengers: Endgame, are working on something new—AI-powered filmmaking. Instead of making another superhero blockbuster, they are building a studio that uses AI as a tool for artists. Their goal is to make AI serve creators, not take their jobs.
The Russo brothers believe AI is changing Hollywood fast. Streaming services, YouTube, and TikTok have already disrupted the industry. Now, AI tools like OpenAI’s Sora and Adobe’s Generate Video can create realistic clips in seconds. If AI keeps improving, it could take over filmmaking.
“We have a complicated relationship to technology, the same way everyone else does,” Joe Russo said. “Where we grow concerned with it… is in its subtle ability to manipulate the collective consciousness of society.”
To fight this, the Russos are investing in AI research. In 2022, their studio, Agbo, received $400 million from Tokyo-based game maker Nexon. They are using this money to develop AI tools that help, rather than replace, human creativity.
“Artists need to lead the innovation, so that the technology is created to serve artists, and not vice versa,” Joe explained. “If we allow corporations to develop the technology… those companies will probably focus on ways to replace artists.”
The Russos recently hired Dominic Hughes, a former Apple AI expert, as their chief scientific officer. Hughes believes AI should be used for creative tasks rather than fact-based work, where mistakes matter more.
Despite their AI focus, the Russos’ latest movie, The Electric State, was made the old-fashioned way, with no AI involved. Production designer Dennis Gassner, who helped bring the film’s robots to life, said, “Everything is about character.”
For the Russo brothers, AI is just another tool—like a pencil or a camera. If they succeed, AI could become a powerful tool for filmmakers, helping them tell better stories instead of replacing them.
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