When NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal chatted up the Russo brothers, co-directors of the record-obliterating Avengers: Endgame, the big fella cut right to the chase. “I have a question for you,” said Shaq, “for the young directors out there how’d you get so big time? How did you get to this point in your life where you’re directing one of the best movies ever made?”
Joe and Anthony Russo are big Shaq fans — Shaq’s a superhero after all. The Russo brothers shout out the old familiars, “hard work and discipline” — something an NBA Hall of Famer like Shaq can relate to. They also talk about how long it takes — they started when they were 20 and 22 and “so we’ve been at this for a good 25 years now. We’ve done a lot of volume over the years. We’ve worked in film, we’ve worked in television.”
[Shaq in Kazam]
Shaq then — because he’s Shaq — pitches the brothers an idea for his next role. (Shaq says he’s come a long way since starring in Kazam.) Shaq’s new idea is to play a character named Blanos — “the black Thanos,” he says. The Russo brothers didn’t get where they are today in Hollywood by being rash — they’re noncommittal on Shaq as Blanos the villain.
After all, the Russos credit “baby steps” for their achievements and call their journey a “25 year overnight success story.” See the full podcast below. 21 Bridges is next up from the Russo brothers.
Here are some other Russo brothers movies, streaming:
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