Netflix is teaming up with executive producers Joe and Anthony Russo (Avengers: Infinity Wars, Avengers: Endgame), Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro’s Allspark Animation to bring the global trading card game-based franchise phenomenon Magic: The Gathering to the screen for the first time in its 25-year history. The Russos will oversee the creation of an all-new storyline for the animated series, also called Magic: The Gathering, with an all-star creative team backing them up.
“We have been huge fans and players of Magic: The Gathering for as long as it has been around, so being able to help bring these stories to life through animation is a true passion project for us,” said Joe and Anthony Russo.
“Magic is a beloved global franchise with a massively engaged fan base that has only continued to grow over the last 25 years,” said John Derderian, Head of Anime Programming for Netflix. “There’s no one better suited to bring this story to audiences around the world than Joe and Anthony Russo, whose talent for genre storytelling is unmatched, as demonstrated by their central role in creating some of the biggest box office hits of all time.”
The MTG animated series will expand on the stories of the Planeswalkers — Magic’s unique magic-wielding heroes and villains — as they contend with stakes larger than any one world can hold.
Octopie will oversee production of the series, with Todd Makurath, Eric Calderon, and Dave Newberg serving as producers, and Mike Larocca and Isaac Krauss serving as executive producers. Henry Gilroy (Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and Jose Molina (The Tick, Agent Carter) will serve as lead writers and co-executive producers on the series, and Yoriaki Mochizuki will serve as supervising director and co-executive producer. Bardel Entertainment is handling animation.
“Working with Joe and Anthony, Wizards of the Coast, and Netflix on such a universally cherished brand is a real highlight for our studio.” said Octopie CEO Krauss. “Our goal is to not only tell a compelling story leveraging Magic: The Gathering’s incredible body of work, but to also push the medium and perception of storytelling through animation. This series will cross the genres of suspenseful thriller, horror, and drama with deeply developed characters the likes of which are not often seen in animation.”
“More fans are enjoying Magic now than at any time in its 25-year history thanks to the enduring popularity of the tabletop game and our latest release War of the Spark, as well as the incredible success of our new digital game, Magic: The Gathering Arena,” said Chris Cocks, President of Wizards of the Coast. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Joe and Anthony Russo to bring Magic: The Gathering’s rich and diverse cast of characters and worlds to Netflix in a way that will delight our many fans and those new to the franchise.”
Magic was created in 1993, and has since connected with over 38 million fans and been published in 11 languages and played in over 70 countries. In addition to the TCG and digital game Arena, fans can enjoy the fantastical characters, worlds and deep strategy of Magic in a New York Times bestselling novel, critically acclaimed comic book series, and professional esports league.
