Attention fellow nerds, our time has come as the multiverse is expanding once again — this time withMagic: The Gathering. Hasbro Entertainment and Legendary Entertainment are teaming up to bring the iconic trading card game toboth film and television, officially launching a sharedMagic: The Gatheringuniverse, and the first item on the agenda is a big-screen adaptation of the fantasy franchise.Magic: The Gatheringhas become a pop culture staple since it was first launched in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast, and it was a pioneer of the trading card game format. It has since inspired a global community of 50 million players, so you may see why Legendary would want to tap into that market.
Hasbro officially acquired the rights to the game back in 1999, and now they’re teaming with Legendary to try and expand it from the table to the screen. Legendary has a pretty good track record when it comes to bringing niche interests to mass audiences, as evidenced by their success with blockbuster franchises likeDuneand the Monsterverse, bringingGodzillaandKonginto the mainstream. They’re also behind Netflix’sEnola Holmesmovies and are currently working on the live-actionMinecraftmovie starringJason MomoaandJack Black.
This isn’t Hasbro’s first attempt at adaptingMagic: The Gathering. ANetflix TV seriesfromStar Trek: PicardshowrunnerTerry Matalasis already in development, which could potentially connect to Legendary’s new film project. A decade ago, 20th Century Fox also tried to develop a film universe with producerSimon Kinberg, but that version never got off the ground, and ifDark Phoenixis anything to go by, that’s probably a good thing.
What Did the Execs In Charge Have to Say About ‘Magic: The Gathering’?
Hasbro and Legendary released statements alongside the news which should appease fans of the series concerned that the quality would be diluted when it comes to making it more digestible entertainment. “We pride ourselves on being thoughtful caretakers of singular, beloved IP, and no property better fits that description thanMagic: The Gathering,” saidMary Parent, Legendary’s chairman of worldwide production. “Alongside the fantastic Hasbro team, we look forward to creating a multimedia universe thatthrills longstanding fans and creates a broad wave of new ones.”
“This is an exciting and complementary partnership, uniting one of the world’s most iconic brands with a powerful and proven steward,” saidZev Foreman, Hasbro Entertainment’s head of film. “Magic: The Gathering has inspired decades of epic world-building and creative storytelling. It is a perfect match for Legendary’s diversified approach to marquee IP, and we are excited to work together to build a whole newMagic: The Gatheringuniverse.”
Plot details are under wraps right now, but Planeswalkers and the like should stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
