When "Felicity" ended, Russell moved to New York City and made her off-Broadway stage debut in 2004 in Neil LaBute's "Fat Pig". In 2005, she returned to television and film, beginning with an appearance in the Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie "The Magic of Ordinary Days", theatrical film "The Upside of Anger", and the television miniseries "Into the West". Directing "" in 2005, J. J. Abrams asked Russell to join the cast and she accepted. She was screen tested for the role of Lois Lane in "Superman Returns", but lost the role to Kate Bosworth.