Magic Movie & TV Universe In Development Via Legendary Entertainment
Image from Command Zone Youtube
Legendary Entertainment is collaborating with Hasbro to create a Magic: The Gathering cinematic and televised universe.
Legendary, the producers of the recent Godzilla and Academy Award-winning Dune film series, is creating a film first, followed by a TV universe.
This announcement, publicized originally by The Command Zone YouTube Channel, is still a ways off from coming to fruition, so more information will come as the story develops.
Press Release From Hasbro Entertainment
Hasbro and Legendary have put together a press release to explain some of the current particulars of the movie and television news:
Legendary Entertainment and Hasbro Entertainment Partner to Create a Film and Television Universe Based on the Massively Popular Trading Card Game
MAGIC: THE GATHERING
- Legendary Entertainment and Hasbro Entertainment will partner to create a live-action feature film and television universe based on Hasbro's massively successful Magic: The Gathering, Hasbro's first $1 billion brand. Initial plans call for a feature film to lead the charge, with television series and other content to be developed as well as the universe expands.
- Legendary is well-known for its ability to translate IP with robust fandoms into epic, creator-driven projects across film, television, comics, and more, in a way that serves the property's core fans while broadening its appeal to wider audiences.
- Created in 1993, Magic: The Gathering is the world's first trading card game. Its compelling characters, fantastic worlds, and deeply strategic yet highly customizable gameplay have captivated more than 50 million fans of all ages worldwide.
- Mary Parent, Legendary's Chairman of Worldwide Production, said, "We pride ourselves on being thoughtful caretakers of singular, beloved IP, and no property better fits that description than Magic: The Gathering. Alongside the fantastic Hasbro team, we look forward to creating a multimedia universe that thrills longstanding fans and creates a broad wave of new ones."
- Zev Foreman, Hasbro Entertainment's Head of Film, said, "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."
- Along with films based on original IP, Legendary has a successful track record for adaptations, including leading video game franchises. Recent titles include the six Academy Award®-winning Dune and Dune: Part Two, adapted from Frank Herbert's Hugo-winning epic novel; multiple entries in its cinematic Monsterverse, including Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Godzilla Vs Kong, Godzilla: King Of The Monsters, Kong: Skull Island, and Godzilla as well as Pokémon: Detective Pikachu; and the Enola Holmes franchise. Upcoming films include A Minecraft Movie, based on the world's bestselling game of all time, starring Jason Momoa and Jack Black; live action-animation hybrid comedy Animal Friends, starring Ryan Reynolds, Jason Momoa, Aubrey Plaza, and Dan Levy; a film adaptation of the iconic Street Fighter game; an untitled Alejandro G. Iñárritu film starring Tom Cruise; and additional event films from Denis Villeneuve as well as the studio's Monsterverse franchise.
A Magic Movie? For Real, For Real?
While many attempts at a Magic television series or film have been stuck in apparent development limbo, this collaboration is a big deal.
Hasbro Entertainment is responsible for bringing us Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
Other Legendary credits include Detective Pikachu and Warcraft. Legendary is also currently working on developing a film based on the Gundam property.
Even with this news, Netflix's animated Magic adaptation is still in the works. According to Command Zone cohost Josh Lee Kwai in the announcement video, that adaptation is being developed by a different studio. As such, no plans currently exist to cease that show's development.
We will deliver more information as soon as it becomes available.