Career
In November 2014, Persichetti was announced to be developing a film based on the Playmobil toys,[2] and in September 2015 plans by French studio Wild Bunch were announced for him to make his feature directorial debut with the film,[3] though this fell apart with them as he was trying to make a pitch to Sony.[4] As the project with Playmobil played out, in December 2015, Persichetti joined the production of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Kristine Belson, the head of Sony Pictures Animation, reached out to him, and he joined after reading a 40-page script treatment.[4][5] This served as Persichetti's introduction to Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and at that point Lord had a "loose first act" he was working on, with a full draft coming to fruition over the next six months while storyboarding and film reels were being worked on simultaneously.[4] Peter Ramsey, with whom Persichetti had worked with frequently before, joined as a co-director at the end of 2016,[4] and they were joined by Rodney Rothman by December 2017.[6]
In February 2019, Persichetti was set to direct Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,[7] but was replaced by Joel Crawford by March 2021.[8]
Persichetti produced The Tiger's Apprentice (2024), directed by Raman Hui and co-directed by Paul Watling and Yong Duk Jhun.[9]
Persichetti returned to direct Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse alongside Across the Spider-Verse co-director Justin K. Thompson.[10] Officially announced in the role in December 2024, Persichetti and Thompson had served in their capacities since production began.[11]
