Netflix's animated Magic: The Gathering series is headed for the graveyard. The project based on the popular collectible card game has been cancelled, according to star Brandon Routh. Routh revealed the news to Collider's Steve Weintraub during an interview for his new movie Ick at the Toronto International Film Festival. When asked about the status of the project, which was announced in 2019 and initially slated to be released in 2022, Routh had some bad news:
"I'm not sure. I did do a voice for it. As far as I understand, nobody's put out a press release about it, but apparently it's not happening. That's kind of old news. I'm not sure why it's surfacing again."
Routh was set to voice Gideon Jura, a noble Planeswalker and one of the card game's most famous heroes. Although it had been fully written and recorded, the series dropped off the radar around the same time that Netflix cancelled a number of in-development animation projects, including adaptations of Bone, Wings of Fire, Antiracist Baby, Pashmina, and a Jamie Hewlett-directed Gorillaz film.
Reasons Behind the Cancellation
The series was originally set to be produced by hitmaking directors Joe and Anthony Russo, with Henry Gilroy (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and Jose Molina (Firefly) as head writers. That team departed due to creative differences, and Jeff Kline (Transformers: Prime) became the series' new executive producer. Kline brought in his own crew, including co-executive producer and story editor Steve Melching (Star Wars: Rebels), supervising director Audu Paden (Monster High), art director Izzy Medrano, and writers Nicole Dubuc, Russell Sommer, Dan Frey, and Taneka Stotts. Despite the solid pedigree of both teams, however, it appears the series fell victim to Netflix's cost-cutting measures. It's a familiar situation for Magic: The Gathering fans; a feature film was in the works at 20th Century Fox with Game of Thrones' Bryan Cogman set to pen the script until it was canceled when Disney acquired the studio in 2019.
Cost-Cutting Measures
The news of the cancellation comes as no surprise, as Netflix has been known to cancel projects in recent years. The streaming giant has been under pressure to cut costs, and it seems that Magic: The Gathering was not immune. It's a tough blow for fans of the card game, who were hoping for a faithful adaptation of their beloved franchise. But it's not the first time a Magic: The Gathering project has been canceled, and it's unlikely to be the last. The franchise's popularity remains strong, and it's only a matter of time before another studio takes a chance on bringing the world of Magic to the screen.
The Future of Magic: The Gathering on Screen
While the Netflix series is dead, Magic: The Gathering is still a popular franchise. In addition to the trading card game, there are several other Magic: The Gathering games and products available, including video games, novels, and comics. And it's possible that another studio will pick up the rights to the franchise and develop a new film or television series. In the meantime, fans can still enjoy the world of Magic through the various games and products that are available.
The cancellation of the Netflix series is a reminder that even the most popular franchises are not immune to the realities of the entertainment industry. But it's also a reminder that the world of Magic: The Gathering is vast and complex, and there are many more stories to be told. Perhaps one day, a studio will finally be able to capture the magic of the franchise and bring it to the screen in a way that will satisfy fans around the world.
