View source for Avi Arad

{{Short description|Israeli-American film and television producer (born 1948)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| image              = Avi Arad by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| caption            = Arad at the 2013 [[San Diego Comic-Con]]
| native_name        = 
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1948|8|1}}
| birth_place        = [[Ramat Gan]], Israel
| nationality        = {{hlist|Israeli|American}}
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| notable_works      = 
| spouse             = Joyce Arad
| children           = 3
| occupation         = {{hlist|Film producer|Television producer|Studio executive}}
| years_active       = 1990–present
| module             = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes
| allegiance       = {{flag|Israel}}
| branch           = [[Israel Defense Forces]]
| serviceyears     = 1965–1968
| rank             = 
| unit             = 
| battles          = [[Six-Day War]] ([[Wounded in action|WIA]])
| awards           = 
}}
}}
'''Avi Arad''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɑː|v|i|_|ˈ|ɑː|r|ɑː|d}}; {{langx|he|אבי ארד}}; born August 1, 1948<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hoffman |first1=Jordan |author-link1=Jordan Hoffman |title=Is Spider-Man Jewish? |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/is-spider-man-jewish/ |website=[[Times of Israel]] |access-date=February 17, 2019 |date=June 13, 2012 |quote=Avi Arad, born in Ramat Gan in 1948, founded and led Marvel Studios and recently produced for that studio the megasmash "The Avengers." |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114012254/https://www.timesofisrael.com/is-spider-man-jewish/ |archive-date=January 14, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web  |title=Avi Arad News & Biography - Empire|url=https://www.empireonline.com/people/avi-arad/ |website=[[Empire Online]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620120910/https://www.empireonline.com/people/avi-arad/ |archive-date=June 20, 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref>) is an [[Israeli-American]] [[studio executive]] and producer of [[film producer|film]], [[television producer|television]] and [[animator|animation]]. He became the [[chief executive officer|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]].<ref name="pr">[http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=23471 "Marvel Announces New Independent Producer Deal with Avi Arad"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060824031557/http://aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=23471 |date=August 24, 2006 }}, May 31, 2006 [[press release]], via [[Ain't It Cool News]]</ref> Since then, he has produced and sometimes written a wide array of live-action, animated, and television comic book adaptations, including ''[[Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse]]''.

== 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]].<ref name="usatoday30">{{cite web |last1=Bowles |first1=Scott |title=Marvel's chief: A force outside, 'a kid inside' |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2003-06-05-marvel_x.htm |website=[[USA Today]] |publisher=Gannett Co. Inc. |access-date=February 17, 2019 |location=Los Angeles |language=en |date=May 6, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304223051/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2003-06-05-marvel_x.htm |archive-date=March 4, 2014 |quote=Arad grew up on Superman and Spider-Man comics translated into Hebrew.}}</ref> 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 days recuperating. Arad finished his military service in 1968.{{r|"usatoday30"}}

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 [[Bachelor of Business Administration|BBA]] in 1972.{{r|"usatoday30"}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hofstra.edu/Academics/Colleges/Zarb/zarbfos/zarbfos_arad.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517121618/http://www.hofstra.edu/Academics/Colleges/Zarb/zarbfos/zarbfos_arad.html|url-status=dead|title=Hofstra University: Frank G. Zarb School of Business – Faces of Success: Avi Arad '72|archive-date=May 17, 2008}}</ref>

==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<!--'Arad Animation' and 'Arad Productions' redirect here--> ===
[[File:Arad Productions (2007) (From - Netflix UK print of Bratz the Movie).png|thumbnail|right|Logo used since 2007]]

On May 31, 2006, Arad resigned his various Marvel positions, including his leadership of [[Marvel Studios]], to form his own production company, '''Arad Productions'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA--> (also known as '''Arad Animation'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA-->), a company that primarily produces Marvel-licensed films separate from the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]].<ref name="pr" /> His first non-Marvel film was 2007's ''[[Bratz (film)|Bratz]]''. Further ventures include manga adaptation ''[[Ghost in the Shell (2017 film)|Ghost in the Shell]]''; an adaptation of [[Brandon Mull]]'s teenage fantasy ''[[Fablehaven (novel)|Fablehaven]]'' (which died in production); an adaptation of [[James Patterson]]'s teenage novel ''[[Maximum Ride (film)|Maximum Ride]]''; and adaptations of video game properties ''[[Uncharted]]'',<ref>{{cite web |first=Amy |last=Hennig |title=Uncharted 2 Live Chat with Naughty Dog |url=http://www.coveritlive.com/index2.php?task=viewaltcast&altcast_code=bb0690c33d |work=The PlayStation Blog |publisher=Sony Computer Entertainment America |date=June 30, 2009 |quote=We're really excited about the development of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune as a movie -- we've been working with Arad Productions for the last year-and-a-half or so |access-date=July 30, 2009}}</ref> ''[[Infamous (video game)|Infamous]]'',<ref>{{cite web |first=Jay A. |last=Fernandez |title=Scribe takes on 'inFAMOUS' |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ide843f7bf07c511ffc026ea4b606ff51 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |date=July 28, 2009 |quote=Avi Arad and Ari Arad will produce. |access-date=July 30, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100109115630/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ide843f7bf07c511ffc026ea4b606ff51| archive-date= January 9, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> ''[[Metal Gear#Film adaptation|Metal Gear Solid]]'',<ref>{{cite web |first=George |last=Wales |title='Metal Gear Solid' movie confirmed |url=http://www.totalfilm.com/news/metal-gear-solid-movie-on-the-way?ns_campaign=news&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=totalfilm&ns_linkname=0&ns_fee=0 |work=Total Film |publisher=Future Publishing Limited |date=August 30, 2012 |access-date=August 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902033633/http://www.totalfilm.com/news/metal-gear-solid-movie-on-the-way?ns_campaign=news&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=totalfilm&ns_linkname=0&ns_fee=0 |archive-date=September 2, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Goslin |first=Austen |date=November 7, 2023 |title=Nintendo is making a live-action Legend of Zelda movie with Sony |url=https://www.polygon.com/platform/amp/23951355/zelda-movie-live-action-nintendo-sony |website=Polygon}}</ref>

=== 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=''Spider-Man'' Producer Avi Arad Becomes I.G. USA Chair |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-08-25/spider-man-producer-avi-arad-becomes-i.g-usa-chair|work=[[Anime News Network]]|publisher=Anime News Network |date=August 25, 2010 |access-date=August 30, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100827180454/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-08-25/spider-man-producer-avi-arad-becomes-i.g-usa-chair| archive-date= August 27, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
=== Feature films ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Executive<br>Producer
! Producer
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Blade (1998 film)|Blade]]''  
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| 2000
| ''[[X-Men (film)|X-Men]]''  
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2002
| ''[[Blade II]]''  
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| ''[[Spider-Man (2002 film)|Spider-Man]]''  
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| rowspan=3 | 2003
| ''[[Daredevil (film)|Daredevil]]''  
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Hulk (film)|Hulk]]''  
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[X2 (film)|X2]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| rowspan=3 | 2004
| ''[[The Punisher (2004 film)|The Punisher]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Spider-Man 2]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Blade: Trinity]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| rowspan=3 | 2005
| ''[[Elektra (2005 film)|Elektra]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Man-Thing (film)|Man-Thing]]'' (TV film)
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Fantastic Four (2005 film)|Fantastic Four]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2006
| ''[[X-Men: The Last Stand]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| rowspan=5 | 2007
| ''[[Ghost Rider (2007 film)|Ghost Rider]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Spider-Man 3]]''  
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer]]''  
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Bratz (film)|Bratz]]''  
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[The Killing Floor (2007 film)|The Killing Floor]]''  
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2008
| ''[[Iron Man (2008 film)|Iron Man]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[The Incredible Hulk (film)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance]]''  
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2012
| ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man (film)|The Amazing Spider-Man]]''   
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Robosapien: Rebooted]]''  
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2014
| ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man 2]]''  
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-''
| 2015
| ''[[Gamba no Bouken|Gamba: Ganba to nakamatachi]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2017
| ''[[Ghost in the Shell (2017 film)|Ghost in the Shell]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Spider-Man: Homecoming]]''  
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2018
| ''[[Venom (2018 film)|Venom]]''  
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Spider-Man: Far From Home]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2021
| ''[[Venom: Let There Be Carnage]]''  
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Spider-Man: No Way Home]]''  
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2022
| ''[[Uncharted (film)|Uncharted]]''  
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Morbius (film)|Morbius]]''  
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| rowspan=3 | 2024
| ''[[Borderlands (film)|Borderlands]]''  
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Venom: The Last Dance]]''  
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Kraven the Hunter (film)|Kraven the Hunter]]''  
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
|rowspan=3| TBA
| ''[[Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| [[The Legend of Zelda (film)|Untitled ''The Legend of Zelda'' film]]  
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Naruto (film)|Naruto]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
|}

=== Direct-to-video ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Executive<br />Producer
! Writer
|-
|rowspan=2| 2006
| ''[[Marvel Animated Features|Ultimate Avengers: The Movie]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| ''[[Marvel Animated Features|Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Panther]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
|rowspan=2| 2007
| ''[[Marvel Animated Features|The Invincible Iron Man]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|Story}}
|-
|''[[Marvel Animated Features|Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Executive<br />Producer
! Creator
! Notes
|-
|1992
|''[[King Arthur and the Knights of Justice]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|1993–1994
|''[[Double Dragon (TV series)|Double Dragon]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|1993
|''[[The Bots Master]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|1993–1997
|''[[X-Men: The Animated Series]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2|1994
|''[[Iron Man (TV series)|Iron Man]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|rowspan=2|
|-
|''[[Fantastic Four (1994 TV series)|Fantastic Four]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|-
|1994–1995
|''[[Spider-Man (1994 TV series)|Spider-Man]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|Also story writer of episode "The Alien Costume, Part 1"
|-
|1996–1997
|''[[The Incredible Hulk (1996 TV series)|The Incredible Hulk]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|1996
|''[[Generation X (film)|Generation X]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|TV pilot
|-
|rowspan=2|1998
|''[[Silver Surfer (1998 TV series)|Silver Surfer]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|''[[Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (film)|Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|TV movie
|-
|1999–2001
|''[[Spider-Man Unlimited]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes|Developer}}
|
|-
|1999–2000
|''[[The Avengers: United They Stand]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2000–2003
|''[[X-Men: Evolution]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|Also story writer of episode "Strategy X"
|-
|2001–2004
|''[[Mutant X (TV series)|Mutant X]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|2003
|''[[Spider-Man: The New Animated Series]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2006
|''[[Blade: The Series]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|''[[Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|Also story writer of episode "Molehattan"
|-
|rowspan=2|2008
|''[[Iron Man: Armored Adventures]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man (TV series)|The Spectacular Spider-Man]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|Episode "[[Survival of the Fittest (The Spectacular Spider-Man)|Survival of the Fittest]]"
|-
|2009
|''[[Wolverine and the X-Men (TV series)|Wolverine and the X-Men]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2013
|''[[Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes|Developer}}
|
|-
|2016–2018
|''[[Kong: King of the Apes]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes|Developer}}
|
|-
|2017–2018
|''[[Tarzan and Jane (TV series)|Tarzan and Jane]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes|Developer}}
|
|-
|2017–2018
|''[[Super Monsters]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|2024
|''[[X-Men '97]]''
|{{yes|Consulting}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb name|32696}}

{{Marvel Cinematic Universe|Studios}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arad, Avi}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:American Ashkenazi Jews]]
[[Category:American chief executives]]
[[Category:American film production company founders]]
[[Category:American people of Polish-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Frank G. Zarb School of Business alumni]]
[[Category:Hofstra University alumni]]
[[Category:Israeli Ashkenazi Jews]]
[[Category:Israeli chief executives]]
[[Category:Israeli emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Israeli film producers]]
[[Category:Israeli people of Polish-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Israeli soldiers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics people]]
[[Category:Marvel Entertainment people]]
[[Category:Marvel Studios people]]
[[Category:People from Givatayim]]
[[Category:Sony people]]
[[Category:Sony Pictures Animation people]]
[[Category:Sony Pictures Entertainment people]]