Israeli Creators Tapped for New Marvel Series, Sparking Online Backlash
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Israeli television creators Ron Leshem and Amit Cohen will write Marvel Studios' new spy series "Zodiac" for Disney Plus, set to premiere in 2028. The announcement has triggered online backlash, with critics accusing Marvel of promoting propaganda. This follows a similar controversy over Israeli actress Shira Haas's casting in a previous Marvel film. Leshem and Cohen are acclaimed for their work on shows like "Gordin Cell" and the original "Euphoria."
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli creators Ron Leshem and Amit Cohen will write Marvel's new "Zodiac" spy series for Disney Plus.
- The announcement sparked online backlash, with accusations of propaganda against Marvel.
- The series "Zodiac" is expected to premiere in 2028 and film in London starting Spring 2027.
- This follows controversy over Israeli actress Shira Haas's casting as Sabra in a previous Marvel film.
- Leshem and Cohen have prior success with Israeli series adapted internationally, including "Gordin Cell" and "Euphoria."
Israeli television creators Ron Leshem and Amit Cohen have been selected by Marvel Studios to write a new spy series titled "Zodiac" for the streaming service Disney Plus. The live-action thriller, expected to premiere in 2028, will follow two spies pursuing targets with special abilities. In Marvel's comic universe, "Zodiac" refers to a mythical crime organization composed of 12 members, each named after a different astrological sign. Filming is reportedly scheduled to begin in London in the spring of 2027.
The selection of the Israeli writers has immediately ignited a wave of anti-Israeli reactions online, particularly on TikTok and Twitter (X). Some users accused Marvel of hiring creators who "made a career writing about an army that commits genocide." Others expressed concern about "Zionist propaganda" and suggested the series would portray Israelis as world-savers and Arabs as villains.
This controversy follows a similar public backlash faced by Marvel Studios regarding the casting of Israeli actress Shira Haas. Haas was chosen to play Ruth Bat-Seraph, also known as Sabra, a superhero in the original comics who was an agent of the Mossad. This decision led to a boycott campaign by pro-Palestinian groups, prompting the studio to soften the character's security background. While Haas broke ground in front of the camera, Leshem and Cohen are making a significant behind-the-scenes impact, with their Israeli connection to Marvel again sparking political debate online.
For Leshem and Cohen, this project marks another milestone in their extensive international careers. The duo, who met in the early 2000s at the Israeli newspaper "Maariv," have previously collaborated on successful series such as "Gordin Cell," which was adapted in the U.S. by NBC, and "Valley of Tears," sold to HBO-Max. Cohen also developed "The Gordin Cell," adapted by Apple TV, and Leshem is a creator of the original Israeli "Euphoria," which inspired the hit HBO series starring Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney.
The "Zodiac" series comes at a strategic time for Marvel Studios, which recently announced plans to significantly reduce its film and series output to prevent audience fatigue and focus on quality. Current cinematic attention is directed towards upcoming "Avengers" films, including "Doctor Doom's Rise" in December and "Secret Wars" in December 2027.
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