Israeli creators Ron Leshem and Amit Cohen have been tapped to write "Zodiac," Marvel's new spy series, Deadline reported overnight Thursday into Friday. According to the report, the series, which is in development for Disney+, is expected to follow two spies pursuing targets with special abilities.
"Zodiac" was announced earlier this month during a Marvel Television panel at New York Comic Con, but few details about the project have been revealed. Described as a live-action espionage thriller, the series is expected to premiere on Disney+ in 2028, with filming scheduled to begin in London in spring 2027 and casting also expected to get underway soon.
According to sources cited by Deadline, the series will follow two spies pursuing individuals with special abilities, though Marvel has not officially confirmed or disclosed any plot details.
In Marvel comics, the name "Zodiac" is associated with a criminal organization whose classic lineup consists of 12 members, each named after one of the signs of the zodiac. First introduced in the late 1960s, the organization has clashed with various superheroes over the years, including the Avengers, and has also been linked to S.H.I.E.L.D.
One of the key figures in its history is Jake Fury, the younger brother of Nick Fury, who operated under the name Scorpio and was associated with early versions of the organization. Several versions of Zodiac have appeared in Marvel comics over the decades, but it remains unclear whether the new series will feature the organization or draw on its storylines and characters.
If confirmed, the project would mark another milestone in Leshem and Cohen's longstanding creative partnership, which has often focused on espionage, national security and war. The two met in the early 2000s, when Leshem held a senior editorial position at the Israeli newspaper Maariv and Cohen joined its staff. Cohen, a veteran of the Israeli military's elite Unit 8200 intelligence unit, worked as a journalist for about a decade, reporting on the Palestinian territories and the Arab world before moving into television writing.
'Zodiac'
(Photo: Courtesy of Marvel)
The two later teamed up to create "The Gordin Cell," an Israeli spy drama that was adapted in the United States by NBC as "Allegiance." Over the years, they have collaborated on several other projects, including "Valley of Tears," which was acquired by HBO Max, "Red Skies," "Traitor," "Bad Boy" and the international series "No Man's Land."
Cohen is also behind the espionage drama "False Flag," which he co-created with Maria Feldman and which was adapted into the American series "Suspicion," starring Uma Thurman, for Apple TV+. Leshem, meanwhile, is one of the creators of the original Israeli "Euphoria," which served as the basis for HBO's hit American series starring Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi. He also serves as an executive producer on the American adaptation.
Robert Downey Jr. at Comic-Con during the announcement of 'Avengers: Doomsday'
(Photo: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
"Zodiac" comes as Marvel shifts direction, scaling back its film and television output after years of flooding theaters and streaming platforms with content. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige recently acknowledged that the sheer number of projects had stretched the company's resources and that its goal now is to refocus on quality.
On the film side, attention is largely centered on the next two Avengers movies: "Avengers: Doomsday," set for release this December, and "Avengers: Secret Wars," scheduled for December 2027. Marvel's live-action television slate has also been significantly reduced, with "Zodiac," planned for 2028, emerging as one of its next major Disney+ projects.
For now, Marvel has not officially confirmed the appointments of Leshem and Cohen, and the company did not respond to Deadline's request for comment.