RSA Films has signed director and artist Anthony Leonardi III for commercial representation in the United States, adding one of the industry’s most distinctive world builders to its roster. Known for transporting audiences into fully realized cinematic universes, Leonardi brings a visually rich, action-driven style that blends spectacle, character, and storytelling with precision and imagination.
Leonardi has built a reputation as a multidisciplinary creative force whose work spans commercials, film and television projects, and interactive experiences. His extensive brand collaborations include campaigns within the Marvel universe for Lexus, Tide, Audi, and two Super Bowl spots, Coca-Cola’s Mini Marvel and Heineken’s No Shrinking and Drinking. His film credits include serving as Second Unit Director on Lilo and Stitch and Transformers Rise of the Beasts.
Over the course of his career, Leonardi has worked with an impressive roster of talent, including Robert Downey Jr., Ana de Armas, Paul Rudd, Eric Andre, Elizabeth Olson, Kumail Nanjiani, Brie Larson, Dwayne Johnson, Danai Gurira, Chris Hemsworth, and Anthony Mackie. He has also partnered with leading agencies to direct campaigns for brands such as Old Spice, Chevrolet, Mountain Dew, Miller Lite, Hyundai, Hertz, and more.
Leonardi traces his visual sensibility back to an early obsession with comics. “There was a comic shop in my hometown that I went to every day after school,” he said. “Eventually the owner’s son started letting me hang around after closing. He’d hand me a stack of paper and tell me to try drawing from any of the books I wanted. It blew my mind wide open and was the first time I realized I had a skill with art that was unique to me. It gave me my voice.”
He went on to study Character Animation and Film at CalArts before pursuing directing at the AFI Film Conservatory, where he first met Luke Ricci, President of RSA Films US. “Luke was one of the first people I connected with there,” Leonardi said. “AFI is such a small, intimate environment, we all ended up helping on each other’s short films.”
Leonardi began his professional career directing music videos and quickly became a sought-after storyboard artist. Gore Verbinski, familiar with his artwork, invited him to storyboard Pirates of the Caribbean At World’s End, an experience Leonardi credits with launching his career. Production designer Deborah Riley later handpicked him to serve as a concept artist on Game of Thrones.
Leonardi and Ricci crossed paths again at Bullitt, the former commercial production company founded by the Russo Brothers. While there, Leonardi was invited by the Russos to contribute to several Marvel films, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Civil War, and Avengers: Endgame, where his concept work expanded into designing full sequences.
“At AFI, Anthony and I used to say the dream would be to keep working together after film school,” Ricci said. “Anthony and I started our careers together, then had a great eight-year run in commercials. We have a strong dynamic, so having the chance to represent Anthony again at RSA is a special opportunity. His work is exemplary film craft, and he brings a strong point of view to everything he creates.”
Leonardi added, “To be at this point in my career, reconnecting with Luke at such a high level is pretty incredible. RSA’s approach to supporting artistic vision at such a high caliber, especially under Luke, decided to join the company easy.”
Leonardi’s body of work includes standout campaigns such as Tide featuring an award-worthy performance by Doctor Strange’s Cloak, which earned two Cannes Lions, Old Spice’s playful send-up of Thor performed by Luke Hemsworth, and a Chevrolet spot in which a galloping horse morphs into a truck racing through dramatic mountain and desert landscapes. Each reflects his gift for immersive world-building.
“I build shots and every detail in the frame the same way I draw and paint,” Leonardi explained. “As soon as I read a script, an original idea pops into my head, I start seeing shots, moments, and visual fragments. Immediately, I begin decoding it with pen on paper, and through that exploration, the tone, feeling, and vision grow. It’s in the service of telling the story. A character and story focus is the other half of my visuals.”
At RSA, Leonardi is eager to explore a wide range of creative opportunities. “I’m always drawn to unique, relatable character stories. Whether that character is a Cloak, a mechanical horse or Thor’s brother reenacting him for local theater and then throwing them into wild situations. I love having fun and entertaining an audience.”
Reel 360 News wishes Anthony the best of luck at RSA.
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