Avi Arad (; ; born August 1, 1948) is an Israeli-American studio executive and producer of film, television and animation. He became the CEO of Toy Biz in the 1990s, was the chief creative officer of Marvel Entertainment and is the founder, former chairman and former CEO of the latter's successor, Marvel Studios."Marvel Announces New Independent Producer Deal with Avi Arad" , May 31, 2006 press release, via Ain't It Cool News He has produced and sometimes written a wide array of live-action, animated, and television comic book adaptations.
Early life Arad was born in 1948 in Ramat Gan, Israel, to a Jewish family. The son of Holocaust survivors from Poland, he grew up reading Superman and Spider-Man comics translated into Hebrew. In 1965, he was conscripted as a soldier into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He fought and was wounded in the 1967 Six-Day War, and spent 15 months recuperating. Arad finished his military service in 1968.
In 1970, Arad moved to the United States and enrolled at Hofstra University to study industrial management. He worked as a truck driver and as a Hebrew teacher to put himself through college, and graduated with a BBA from Hofstra's Frank G. Zarb School of Business in 1972.
Career Marvel Comics Along with Israeli-American Toy Biz co-owner Isaac Perlmutter, Avi Arad came into conflict with Carl Icahn and Ron Perelman over control of Marvel Comics in the wake of its 1996 bankruptcy. In the end, Arad and Perlmutter came out on top, with Toy Biz taking over Marvel Comics in a complicated deal that included obtaining the rights to Spider-Man and other superheroes that Marvel had sold earlier. He was involved in Marvel's emergence from bankruptcy and the expansion of the company's profile through licensing and movies.
Arad Productions
On May 31, 2006, Arad resigned his various Marvel positions, including his leadership of Marvel Studios, to form his own production company, Arad Productions (also known as Arad Animation), a company that primarily produces Marvel-licensed films separate from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His first non-Marvel film was 2007's Bratz. Further ventures include manga adaptation Ghost in the Shell; an adaptation of Brandon Mull's teenage fantasy Fablehaven (which died in production); an adaptation of James Patterson's teenage novel Maximum Ride; and adaptations of video game properties Uncharted, Infamous, Metal Gear Solid, and The Legend of Zelda.
Production I.G In August 2010, it was announced that Arad was given a chair with the American branch of animation studio Production I.G in Los Angeles, California.
Personal life
Israel–Palestine conflict
A self-described proud former member of the Israeli military, Arad has been a staunch supporter of Israel. In 2024, he denounced Democratic U.S. senator Chuck Schumer for criticizing Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the Gaza war, and stated his opposition to a ceasefire in Gaza.
Filmography Feature films Year Title ExecutiveProducer Producer 1998 Blade 2000 X-Men 2002 Blade II Spider-Man 2003 Daredevil Hulk X2 2004 The Punisher Spider-Man 2 Blade: Trinity 2005 Elektra Man-Thing (TV film) Fantastic Four 2006 X-Men: The Last Stand 2007 Ghost Rider Spider-Man 3 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Bratz The Killing Floor 2008 Iron Man The Incredible Hulk 2011 Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance 2012 The Amazing Spider-Man 2013 Robosapien: Rebooted 2014 The Amazing Spider-Man 2 2015 Gamba: Ganba to nakamatachi 2017 Ghost in the Shell Spider-Man: Homecoming 2018 Venom Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2019 Spider-Man: Far From Home 2021 Venom: Let There Be Carnage Spider-Man: No Way Home 2022 Uncharted Morbius 2023 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse 2024 Borderlands Venom: The Last Dance Kraven the Hunter 2026 Spider-Man: Brand New Day 2027 The Legend of Zelda Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
Direct-to-video Year Title ExecutiveProducer Writer 2006 Ultimate Avengers: The Movie Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Panther 2007 The Invincible Iron Man Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme
Television Year Title ExecutiveProducer Creator Notes1992King Arthur and the Knights of Justice1993–1994Double Dragon1993The Bots Master1993–1997X-Men: The Animated Series1994Iron ManFantastic Four1994–1998Spider-Man: The Animated SeriesAlso story writer of episode "The Alien Costume, Part 1"1996–1997The Incredible Hulk1996Generation XTV pilot1998Silver SurferNick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.TV movie1999–2001Spider-Man Unlimited1999–2000The Avengers: United They Stand2000–2003X-Men: EvolutionAlso story writer of episode "Strategy X"2001–2004Mutant X2003Spider-Man: The New Animated Series2006Blade: The SeriesFantastic Four: World's Greatest HeroesAlso story writer of episode "Molehattan"2008Iron Man: Armored AdventuresThe Spectacular Spider-ManEpisode "Survival of the Fittest"2009Wolverine and the X-Men2013–2015Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures2016–2018Kong: King of the Apes2017–2018Tarzan and Jane2017–2018Super Monsters2024–presentX-Men '97
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