Dear reader, it’s time you learn something very embarrassing about me. Well, probably not anymore cringey than the various other things I have written about myself in the past (because Lord knows there’s plenty to cringe about). But alas, the latest news regarding the Russo Brothers brings back memories of my teenage years spent geeking out with my friends in dimly lit comic book stores instead of going out and partying. You see, I enjoyed “Magic: The Gathering,” and I spent many a night sitting with groups of friends laughing, yelling, and generally acting like the biggest dorks in the world while “battling” with the card-based fantasy game. And these memories have all come rushing back as it’s just been announced that the “Avengers: Endgame” directors are bringing my secret love to Netflix.
According to Deadline, Joe and Anthony Russo are producing a new animated series based on the card game “Magic: The Gathering,” which has been around for decades and is perhaps more popular today than ever before. The series will be based on the mythology and lore of the card game, which features the Planeswalkers, a designation given to wizards that use spells to summon various tools and creatures to defeat their enemies.
“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,” the Russos said.
Unfortunately, the brothers aren’t mentioned as being part of the series outside of the producing role. Netflix says the duo will “oversee the creation of an all-new storyline and expand on the stories” of the universe. So, even though they won’t be super hands-on, their storytelling ability, which some might argue is their best asset in the Marvel Studios films, will be utilized.
That being said, they are teaming with Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast to bring the series to life in the best way possible. “Magic: The Gathering” will be co-showrun by Henry Gilroy (“Star Wars Rebels”) and Jose Molina (“The Tick”), who will also write the series.
“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’ 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 is demonstrated by their central role in creating some of the biggest box office hits of all time.”
No word yet on when Netflix will bring the animated series to fans, but it does appear that there’s a pretty talented team working on ‘Magic,’ which is pretty exciting. And yes, I’ll probably enjoy this, as my wife looks at me shamefully and questions her decision about marrying me.
