Longtime Marvel Executive Dave Bushore Exits (Exclusive)

Longtime Marvel executive Dave Bushore is exiting the company to discover, and build, new worlds.

Bushore, who had been with the studio for 15 years, was most recently vp, franchise creative & immersive development for Marvel and leaves on a career high.

He directed and executive produced the What If ...? – An Immersive Story experience, a team-up between Marvel and ILM for Apple Vision Pro that was awarded a Creative Arts Emmy last weekend in the outstanding innovation in emerging media programming category. And the project exhibited at the Venice International Film Festival in the "Best of Experiences" Immersive section, where it was Marvel's first trip to the festival and one of 10 immersive projects selected globally.

"Being invited to Venice was mind-blowing," Bushore tells The Hollywood Reporter. "Being there and seeing the embracing of this new type of content, and the people coming through doing the experience, filmmakers and ambassadors, that was a really cool thing."

And it's exactly what this self-described "story nerd" wants to do more of.

Bushore is not joining a new company, but instead is bounding into parts unknown. He seeks to take his experience in the intersection of technology and new ways audiences participate in their favorite brands. His goal is to create exciting, emotionally poignant, ground-breaking experiences that continue to push the boundaries of media and entertainment.

Bushore joined Marvel in 2009, after the company had released The Incredible Hulk, and worked as a coordinator for Brad Winderbaum, now the head of television, streaming and animation. Bushore recalls seeing the first two Iron Man movies in the theater with friends and having to explain to them who Nick Fury was.

As the MCU grew, he moved up along the way, working in home entertainment, TV specials, parks development, and joining what is now the franchise team, which deals with special projects and initiatives outside theatrical production.

His What If... work will continue to be discovered and enjoyed by audiences, as the experience was released internationally in territories where Apple Vision Pro is available, such as Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

And THE XR Awards, which celebrate achievement in virtual and augmented reality, announced on Aug. 19 that What If...? was a 2024 finalist in the "XR Film & Experience of the Year" category. Winners will be announced on Dec. 5.

Bushore says he learned a lot about world building and storytelling by being part of the MCU, and remains amazed by the creativity of those with whom he worked.

"I'm going to miss the people, the characters, and the ideas that get thrown around in the hallways," he says. "There's no place like Marvel Studios for that, it's infectious."

"But, " he adds, "I'm ready to bring that energy and big ideas to some new kinds of stories in town."