Get Ready: ‘Magic: the Gathering’ is Coming to the Big Screen!

by

Previously, we’ve seen exceptional adaptations of “The Lord of the Rings” and “Game of Thrones” (ignoring Season 8), decent adaptations of “The Wheel of Time” and “His Dark Materials”, and problematic versions of “The Witcher” and “Shadow and Bone”. Now, it’s time for another cherished fantasy intellectual property to step into the adaptation arena – “Magic: the Gathering“. Derived from the extremely popular card game by Wizards of the Coast, the “Magic: the Gathering” universe will serve as the backdrop for a new live-action fantasy series.

According to Variety, the popular card game “Magic: the Gathering” is being developed into a new movie and TV series by Legendary Entertainment and Hasbro. This project encompasses a live-action feature film and a television universe. Initially, a live-action movie will be produced, but specifics about this film are yet to be revealed. Interestingly, both studios are maintaining secrecy regarding the details of all upcoming “Magic: the Gathering” projects they have in store. It remains unknown how many projects they currently have in development.

In a statement, Mary Parent, head of global production at Legendary, expressed excitement about collaborating with Hasbro to develop an enthralling multimedia world that would captivate both old and new fans. Notably, Legendary has already translated several significant intellectual properties into blockbuster films, such as the Godzilla and King Kong mythos in the Monsterverse, the adaptation of Dune, Detective Pikachu, Netflix’s Enola Holmes, which is loosely inspired by the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

What Actually Is ‘Magic the Gathering’ About?

Magic: Gathering was introduced in 1993, making it the first trading card game available to the public. Currently, it’s estimated that around 50 million people play this game, ranging from those who collect the pricey physical cards to online players enjoying the video game version. Although the essence of the game revolves around card battles, similar to many tabletop and card games, Magic: the Gathering boasts a rich and intricate lore.

In the world of Magic: the Gathering, the action unfolds across various realms and dimensions, though a significant portion of the narrative occurs on Dominaria. The history is woven into the cards themselves, as well as in books and novels based within this game’s universe. Summarizing Magic: the Gathering in just a few sentences can be quite challenging, but the core concept revolves around “planeswalkers,” powerful individuals who traverse planes (dimensions) and employ their abilities to gather magical items like artifacts, relics, and runes.

If you’re a fan of the epic tale of The Lord of the Rings and are yearning for more enchanting high fantasy adventures, then perhaps the world of Magic: The Gathering could be your next magical journey. This universe is brimming with knights, rulers, towering creatures like dragons, colossal beasts, ancient spells, various lands, deities, demons, and everything in between.

The first live-action “Magic: the Gathering” movie and its expanded universe will make its debut on screens. For years, Netflix had been working on an animated adaptation of the same name, but in September 2024, this project was ultimately canceled by the streaming platform. The news was shared by Brandon Routh, who was cast for the series. In a straightforward statement, he confirmed, “It’s not happening,” with Netflix’s decision to reduce costs being cited as the reason behind the show’s failure to materialize.

Read More

2025-02-08 00:01