The popular collectible card game, Magic: The Gathering, is set to get its own cinematic universe courtesy of the studio behind Dune and the Monsterverse. Originally released in 1993, the trading card game has since surpassed every other property controlled by Hasbro, and has officially become its first $1 billion brand. Plans for previous movie adaptations had originally begun in 2014, when the rights were acquired by 20th Century Fox, but were later cancelled during Disney’s 2019 acquisition of the studio. Netflix also has its own Magic: The Gathering animated series presently in development.
Now, Hasbro and Legendary Entertainment have revealed that a new film deal has been struck for a live-action movie adaptation that will also set the stage for an ongoing cinematic universe. The announcement also suggests that a television series and other content will be developed as the universe expands. This move is the latest in a series of pushes from Hasbro’s entertainment division, which has also announced plans for adaptations of board games like Monopoly and Clue, and currently has over 30 active projects in development. Check out what Zev Foreman, Hasbro Entertainment’s Head of Film, had to say below:
This is an exciting and complementary partnership, uniting one of the world’s most iconic brands with a powerful and proven steward. 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 new MAGIC: THE GATHERING universe.
What This Announcement Means For Magic: The Gathering
The Game’s Lore Allows For Nearly Limitless Storytelling
As a game that sees its players, or Planeswalkers, traverse countless possible worlds, the storytelling potential for a cinematic universe based on Magic: The Gathering is nearly limitless. With the brand already having branched out into video games, novels, and comics, it was only a matter of time before the property eventually found its way onto the big screen. While 20th Century Fox’s own attempt at bringing the game to life with X-Men producer Simon Kinsberg would never eventuate, this new deal will see Lionsgate capitalize on the benefit of an already established and sizable fanbase.
There is still plenty of appetite for movies based on Hasbro’s better-known fantasy game properties.
Exactly which direction the first Magic: The Gathering movie, and its subsequent television tie-in, will take remains to be seen. However, despite its lackluster box office haul, the largely positive critical response and streaming success of 2023’s Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, would suggest there is still plenty of appetite for movies based on Hasbro’s better-known fantasy game properties. Moreover, with other franchises such as The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones continuing to prove their ongoing longevity, Legendary could potentially keep expanding this new cinematic universe for years to come.
Our Take On Legendary’s Magic: The Gathering Franchise
Getting The Right Creative Team Will Be Imperative To Success
Despite the advantages inherent in having a pre-existing fanbase, the task of adapting a property as well-known as Magic: The Gathering can also prove troublesome if not handled correctly. While the game’s instant brand recognition will help Legendary’s new franchise stand out from among the slew of other fantasy movies and shows, the expectations that will be placed on the movie’s eventual creative team are bound to be enormous.
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With a highly passionate and global following, each move made in the first Magic: The Gathering movie is bound to be closely scrutinized, and any actual, or even perceived misstep, could potentially spell disaster for plans of an ongoing multimedia franchise. Selecting exactly the right directorial and screenwriting team will be key to starting on the right footing, and this new undertaking is bound to attract a great deal of attention in the coming months.
Source: Hasbro & Legendary