Legendary Pictures and Hasbro first revealed their intentions for a live-action Magic: The Gathering movie and television cinematic universe back in February and a new report has revealed that plans are progressing somewhat briskly.
Per Deadline, Matt Johnson is the current frontrunner to direct the first feature out the gate. However, it should be noted that no formal offer has been made, yet.
Emerging from the Canadian independent film scene, his directorial style is an intriguing blend of guerrilla filmmaking and a knack for capturing the awkward realities of modern life.
One of the most defining characteristics of Johnson's work is his low-budget, DIY aesthetic. His early films, particularly The Dirties, feel raw and authentic, often employing handheld cameras, natural lighting, and a sense of immediacy that blurs the lines between fiction and reality.
“We pride ourselves on being thoughtful caretakers of singular, beloved IP, and no property better fits that description than Magic: The Gathering,” said Mary Parent, Legendary’s chairman of Worldwide Production, back when the partnership with Hasbro was first revealed. “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.”
“This is an exciting and complementary partnership, uniting one of the world’s most iconic brands with a powerful and proven steward,”echoedHasbro Entertainment head of Film Zev Foreman. “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.”
Hasbro values its strategic tournament intellectual property at $1 billion, fueled by a fanbase of over 50 million. Aiming for franchise success akin to the Monsterverse, Dune, and Jurassic Park, they are partnering with Legendary to develop lucrative films and television series.
Created by Richard Garfield and first released in 1993, Magic: The Gathering is a tabletop and digital collectible card game. While initially inspired by fantasy role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, its gameplay diverges significantly from tabletop RPGs.
Instead of assuming the role of a single adventurer within a shared fictional world, Magic players engage in strategic duels against one or more opponents, commanding armies of creatures and wielding potent spells represented by individual cards.
Furthermore, in contrast to the relatively contained scope of many traditional card games, Magic: The Gathering boasts a perpetually expanding universe of cards, numbering in the tens of thousands, each possessing unique abilities and strategic applications.