Legion M: David Baxter Promoted To VP Of Development
Legion M, billed as the world’s “first fan-owned entertainment company,” has promoted David Baxter to vice president of development, where he will oversee the company’s development slate of film, television, and VR projects with COO and head of content, Terri Lubaroff.
Baxter has been in the spotlight in recent days as a key event producer of the high-profile Star Lee tribute scheduled for Wednesday at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. The event will be hosted by Kevin Smith who, like industry veteran Baxter, knew and admired the late Marvel Comics icon for decades.
With more than 25 years in the entertainment industry as a development executive, producer, and award-winning WGA writer, Baxter joined Legion M as the head of content-developing services when the company was formed by Paul Scanlan and Jeff Annison in 2016. The company uses the equity crowdfunding laws enabled by the federal Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act to offer fans the opportunity to invest directly in an early-stage entertainment company. With that approach Legion M has 50,000 registered members and more than 10,000 company investors. Legion M has more than $5 million in funding, making it one of the most successful JOBS Act companies.
“Working with the team at Legion M to revolutionize the entertainment industry with our fan-led model has been the most rewarding work experience of my life,” Baxter said. “As one of the company’s founding employees, I have seen incredible growth and increasing traction for our unique way of approaching entertainment financing, development, production, and marketing. I am thrilled to take on greater responsibilities within the company as we continue to evangelize our inclusive approach to making great entertainment and growing the Legion toward our goal of one million fan-owners.”
Through its fan-owned business model, Legion M invests in original projects in various stages of development, including the feature film and comic book Girl With No Name; original television series including Evermor, Airship Cowboys, and Malice; as well as interactive and VR-based projects. Legion M also invests in partner productions, including the critically acclaimed Colossal, starring Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis, and directed by Nacho Vigalondo; the “instant” cult classic Mandy starring Nicolas Cage; and directed by Panos Cosmatos; and Bad Samaritan starring David Tennant and directed and produced by Dean Devlin.
Baxter began his career as an assistant to Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Errol Morris and received his MFA at UCLA’s Producer’s Program. He worked as marketing manager at gaming hardware company Gamevice and as head of development for SCTV alum Dave Thomas’ Maple Palm Productions where he was a producer on Ambushed, directed by Ernest Dickerson. Baxter was also producing partner with noted awards strategist Lisa Taback at their company at Nimbus Pictures. He is the winner of two Alfred P. Sloan grants for screenplays about scientists Hedy Lamarr and Rosalind Franklin.
“David has played a critical role in the continued growth and success of Legion M,” said Paul Scanlan, Legion M cofounder and CEO. “His promotion to vice president of development is a well-deserved acknowledgement of his passionate pursuit of creative projects, including the feature film Mandy and the upcoming Stan Lee tribute.”