The Defenders won't likely be making an appearance in Marvel's The Avengers: Infinity War, according to co-director Anthony Russo.

As for why the four Netflix heroes (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist) won't be included in the two-part film series, Russo discussed the logistical complications in making a crossover like that happen. "It’s complicated. When we start to serialize the telling of stories it’s difficult," Russo told SUPER Interessante (via Heroic Hollywood).

"You have to have a lot of control and focus on the course of history," he continued. "The films are controlled by a group led by Kevin Feige, so they function as a unit. Other products, even if they are from Marvel, are controlled by others. Then there is the possibility of a crossover, but it’s more complicated."

That said, Russo noted that while the rights to some of Marvel's iconic characters are owned by other companies, the studio managed to get Spider-Man in the MCU, so nothing's completely off the table. "As storytellers, we only have control over what happens in Marvel movies, but everything is possible, Spider-Man (whose rights were held by Sony) became possible!”

Marvel's The Avengers: Infinity War, Part 1 is set to open in theaters on May 4, 2018. According to executive producer Jeremy Latcham, Infinity War will mark the end for some of Marvel's mighty team.