Netflix has revived its Magic: The Gathering animated series, so here’s everything we know about the show.
Streaming giant Netflix initially announced plans to produce an MTG series with Wizards of the Coast in 2019. At the time, Joe and Anthony Russo, of MCU fame, were set to lead the creative team for the CG animated series.
The Russo brothers left the project in 2021, leaving Netflix to name Transformers: Prime producer Jeff Kline as the new executive producer. Since then, the streamer has been silent on the progress of the MTG series for a long time. That silence has ended.
During Geeked Week 2024, the animated adaptation of Magic: The Gathering returned to the spotlight for the first time in years.
Who is behind Netflix’s Magic: The Gathering series?
Netflix/Wizards of the Coast
So far, Netflix has yet to share a trailer for the new MTG series, though the key art featured above gives some hints as to the tone.
NetflixThe press release is also lacking in concrete details about the overall creative vision. However, it does at least clarify who will be the driving force this time around.
Neither the Russos nor Jeff Kline are attached, with the production instead following a “new creative direction” from executive producer and showrunner Terry Matalaswho is best known for serving as executive producer of 12 Monkeys and Star Trek: Picard.
Patrick Osborne, who won an Oscar for the short film Feast, will serve as supervising director and executive producer.
Does the MTG series have a release date?
At the time of writing this article, Netflix’s Magic: The Gathering has no release date or even a launch window.
The press release released during Geeked Week 2024 simply states that production is currently underway. It is not yet known how long this version of the project has been in development.
What will the story of the MTG show focus on?
Wizards of the CoastChandra Nalaar could be the main character of the new series.
Story details have not been revealed, but Netflix’s official announcement refers to “pyromancer goggles” in a clear nod to Chandra, a fearsome Planeswalker with the power to summon fire.
While this may amount to little more than a throwaway line, the teaser image depicting what appears to be a woman with an open flame in her palm suggests otherwise.
Additionally, it should be noted that Joe Russo told a CCSD 2019 audiences were “excited” if they liked Jace and Chandra, leading many at the time to believe that they would be the central characters of the series.
The Russo brothers are no longer involved in the production of Netflix’s Magic: The Gathering, so it’s unclear to what extent – if at all – these initial ideas remain in place.
What happened with Netflix’s original MTG plans?
Wizards of the Coast’s Brandon Routh was once on board to play Gideon Jura.
After Joe and Anthony Russo left the project due to creative differences, Netflix brought on Transformers: Prime’s Jeff Kline to oversee development of a new script.
The stars of Superman Returns and Legends of Tomorrow Brandon Routh has been announced as the lead in the days following the Kline affair. He had been hired specifically to voice Gideon, indicating that Jace and Chandra were no longer the main characters.
Interestingly, in a September 2024 interview at the Toronto International Film Festival, Routh said: Collider that, as far as he knew, the show was no longer taking place.
Details surrounding Jeff Kline’s now-abandoned version of Netflix’s Magic: The Gathering are still under wraps. And it appears Brandon Routh is no longer involved, either.
We’ll be sure to keep this article updated as more information becomes available. For more on MTG, check out the new Duskmourn card revealed for the House of Horrors expansion.
