Info in Movie News | Matt Johnson, known for the critically acclaimed BlackBerry and the cult hit Nirvanna the Band the Show, is reportedly in early talks to direct the first-ever live-action Magic: The Gathering movie. The project, a collaboration between Hasbro and Legendary Entertainment, was first announced in February and marks the start of a planned cinematic universe based on the iconic trading card game.
According to Collider, Johnson emerged as a strong contender after his latest movie, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, gained attention at SXSW and was picked up by indie distributor Neon. While the deal isn’t finalized and no screenwriter has been attached yet, the choice of Johnson hints at a creative, possibly offbeat direction for the movie, a big leap from the director’s indie roots to a major franchise.
Starting from 1993, the Magic: The Gathering game has really taken off all around the globe. Wizards of the Coast was the first to come out with it, so it was an unprecedented collectible card game that has supported and over 50 million players worldwide. The game’s profuse and very deep in fantasy lore and magic multiverse that is home to sorcery casting Planeswalkers create an absolutely huge area for a movie-like story. Its popularity has also led to crossover cards with Final Fantasy, The Lord of the Rings, Dungeons & Dragons, and Marvel.
If Johnson comes aboard, he’ll be the second high-profile creative attached to the growing Magic universe. Terry Matalas—best known for Star Trek: Picard and 12 Monkeys, was previously brought in to revive the long-stalled animated series for Netflix. Though that project faced several setbacks, Matalas's involvement reignited hope among fans, and now with Johnson potentially directing the live-action side, the pieces are starting to come together.
One thing is for certain, not until there is a long process to be undergone before something reaches the screen. However, the participation of those two respected creatives is a very clear signal that Hasbro and Legendary are really involved in this project. Assuming everything is done according to plan, Magic: The Gathering is very plausible to be the next great fantasy franchise, attracting former fans and newbies a diversified way to be introduced to the world of the Planeswalkers.
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