Israeli Creators Ron Leshem and Amit Cohen to Write Marvel's Zodiac Series
Israeli creators Ron Leshem and Amit Cohen will write Marvel's upcoming Disney Plus spy series Zodiac, sparking immediate online controversy and social media backlash.
Israeli television creators Ron Leshem and Amit Cohen have been tapped by Marvel Studios to write the upcoming live-action spy thriller series titled "Zodiac", slated to premiere on Disney Plus in 2028, according to Deadline. The series will follow a pair of operatives tracking targets with special abilities. In Marvel comics lore, the Zodiac is a mythological criminal syndicate composed of 12 members bearing astrological signs. Filming is expected to begin in London in the spring of 2027.
Backlash on Social Media
The selection of Israeli screenwriters immediately triggered online backlash. Users on TikTok and X criticized Marvel, with one claiming the creators built a career writing about an army committing genocide, while others alleged the series would feature Zionist propaganda. This controversy echoes the intense international debate surrounding the casting of Shira Haas as Sabra in "Captain America: Brave New World", which prompted boycott campaigns and a softening of the character's security background.
An Illustrious International Career
For Leshem and Cohen, this marks another milestone in their global careers. Having met at the Maariv newspaper in the early 2000s, the duo collaborated on acclaimed hits like "Gordion Cell" and "Valley of Tears". Cohen also created "False Flag", adapted by Apple, while Leshem co-created the original Israeli "Euphoria". This major Marvel project arrives as the studio trims its slate to focus on quality amidst upcoming cinematic blockbusters.
"This is a monumental step for Israeli creators breaking into the highest echelons of global Hollywood television production," industry analysts note.
