Patty Whitcher

Patricia Whitcher is a world-renowned film and TV production manager and producer, with credits on many Hollywood blockbusters, including Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), The Avengers (2012) and Captain America: Civil War (2016) She is currently Vice President, Physical Production, Original Film at Netflix, and has been in the role since 2018. Her job is to oversee the production for all Netflix original films, particularly those in the U.S.

Ms Whitcher moved to Netflix as one of three big-name signings that were brought in to help the company ramp up its production both in the U.S. and internationally. At the same time, Netflix also brought in noted producers Momita SenGupta (VP of Physical Production for Original Series) and Steven Squillante (VP of Physical Production for International Originals) into similar positions. Netflix VP of Physical Production, Ty Warren, labelled the signing of the trio as a significant move in Netflix’s ability to produce its own top-quality content.

Shortly after the signing coup in 2018, Netflix unveiled a new production hub in New Mexico. It purchased ABQ Studios and committed to $80 million a year in qualified spending from the Albuquerque base. In its first year, that spend was almost $150 million, much of which was on productions overseen by Ms Whitcher.

Ms Whitcher refers to her role as a hands-off one. While she is in charge of the production of films, including their budgets, she often has many films being produced at a given time. She is a believer in not micro-managing her productions, and entrusts individual directors and producers with the freedom to make decisions without her input.

Before moving to Netflix, Ms Whitcher had producing roles in more than 50 films over the space of 32 years. She is considered one of the top feature producers in Hollywood, and has worked with high profile directors such as Steven Spielberg, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Condon, Joss Whedon, Rob Marshall, and the Russo brothers, Anthony and Joseph. She started working in the film industry in 1986.

Ms Whitcher produced a number of films under the Marvel banner, having first been an executive producer on Kenneth Branagh’s Thor in 2011. She also produced Joss Whedon’s The Avengers, which broke box-office records when it was released in 2012. Ms Whitcher continued her work with Marvel on Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Captain Marvel, and Spider-Man: Homecoming. Such was her standing within Marvel, that a character, Agent Whitcher, was named in her honour in Captain Marvel.

Ms Whitcher has had producing roles on Oscar-winning films Dreamgirls and Memoirs of a Geisha. She has credits on a number of acclaimed productions such as The Soloist, The Terminal, Godzilla, My Best Friend’s Wedding, and Unconditional Love.