Alyssa VanPelt-Cathcart, Staff Writer
Magic: The Gathering is a tabletop card game that has been around for over thirty years. It is developed and published through both Hasbro Entertainment and Wizards of the Coast. The card game is popularized through their connection to the famous tabletop role-playing game, Dungeons & Dragons. However, as of recently, Magic: The Gathering has managed to stay popular thanks to their nostalgia, as well as their ability to utilize other popular cultures. Magic: The Gathering has produced cards following the theme from other franchises such as Warhammer, My Little Pony, and Hatsune Miku.
In a September 2024 article published to Netflix’s official website, “Showrunner and executive producer Terry Matalas is spearheading a new creative direction,” announces the early details of the Magic: The Gathering show. The Magic: The Gathering show will be an “event animated series” to stream on Netflix, according to Jean Bentley, the author of this article. Netflix has produced other shows, or movies, in relation to games or video games. Netflix’s most recent success in this video game adaptation category was Arcane. Arcane is based on the multiplayer online battle arena, or MOBA, League of Legends. Other adaptations such as DOTA, or World of Warcraft, were less successful. However, following two successful seasons of Arcane, perhaps Netflix will be able to sponsor another amazing adaptation.
Terry Matalas has worked on many other nerdy, creative projects such as having been the writer for the TV series, Star Trek: Picard. Additionally, he is the writer for the TV series, 12 Monkeys which airs on Syfy. According to IMDb, 12 Monkeys “follows the journey of a time traveler from the post-apocalyptic future who appears in the present day on a mission to locate and eradicate the source of a deadly plague that will nearly destroy the human race.” Magic: The Gathering utilizes the concept of a multiverse within their card game lore as Planeswalkers are the primary holders of these cards. Matalas, being familiar with time traveling stories, or parallel universes, is an excellent fit for the development of this series. Matalas shares to Tadum, the article producer through Netflix, “Those new to this sprawling saga will learn what millions of fans who play every day already know. Magic is the ultimate storytelling sandbox, brimming with iconic, complex characters, extraordinary mind-bending powers, and portals to every genre imaginable. It is also a powerful reminder that no matter what culture, country, or plane of existence you come from, we can all unite and become heroes together.”
Another big-name contributor to this series is Patrick Osborn. Osborn has worked on animation for multiple films such as Big Hero 6, Tangled, and Spider-Man 2. Other big name works he has worked on are Nimona and I Am Legend. I Am Legend is a classic film starring Will Smith who survives a post-apocalyptic world caused by a plague with his dog as he seeks out a cure. Osborn does incredible work, and it will be exciting to see how the visuals of the Magic: The Gathering series develop thanks to his contribution. All there is really left to do is wait as more of the show’s development is revealed.
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