Amazon has announced the recruitment of Joe Quesada, the former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief and ex-Marvel Entertainment chief creative officer, in a bid to increase its focus on comic book films and TV series.
Quesada has signed an exclusive first-look film and television deal with Amazon, and will be responsible for adapting both new and existing comic book IP for the platform. According to Nick Pepper, head of U.S. owned development at Amazon, Quesada’s extensive experience in guiding some of the most iconic storytelling of our time makes him a valuable addition to the team.
The deal offers a world of possibilities for Amazon Studios, and audiences are eagerly anticipating the creative projects that will come from this collaboration. After spending 24 years at Marvel, Quesada has developed some of the most popular characters and storylines in recent history, including Civil War, Age of Ultron, Guardians of the Galaxy, Ms. Marvel, and Miles Morales, among others.
He was also a key player in Marvel Studios‘ first group of movies and TV series and served as an executive producer on shows such as Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Agents of SHIELD. Amazon is already collaborating on Sony-owned Marvel projects with Phil Lord and Chris Miller and is excited to have landed Quesada to further enhance their comic book offerings.
“I can’t begin to express just how thrilled I am to be joining the Amazon Studios family,” Quesada said. “From the moment Nick Pepper, Matt King and the team approached me, it was clear we spoke the same language and shared the same creative goals. What was also clear is that they’re creating a collaborative environment and unique methodology that I’m surprised no one has yet thought to implement, but I’m certain will be quickly imitated.”
Amazon’s collaboration with Sony for Marvel titles has resulted in the streaming giant partnering with Angela Kang, the former showrunner of The Walking Dead, to direct “Silk: Spider Society.” This is the first installment in a projected lineup of films based on the studio’s universe, which includes over 900 characters.
