By Sagar V. Mankar 
Magic: The Gathering, the beloved trading card game, is expanding into movies and television through a new partnership between Hasbro and Legendary Entertainment.
Plans are already in motion for both a feature film and TV series with Legendary Entertainment, known for successfully bringing other gaming properties to the big screen, leading the production efforts.
The partnership holds special significance, according to Hasbro’s Head of Film, Zev Foreman. “This is an exciting and complementary partnership, uniting one of the world’s most iconic brands with a powerful and proven steward,” he explained. The collaboration aims to build upon Magic’s rich history of storytelling and world-building that has captivated fans for decades.
Legendary Entertainment brings considerable experience to the project. As reported by Deadline, the production company has previously shown its ability to handle beloved gaming properties, having produced successful adaptations like “Pokémon: Detective Pikachu” and “Warcraft.” They’re also currently working on the upcoming Minecraft movie, showing their continued commitment to gaming adaptations.
Mary Parent, Legendary’s Chairman of Worldwide Production, expressed enthusiasm about working with the Magic: The Gathering property. “We pride ourselves on being thoughtful caretakers of singular, beloved IP,” she stated, emphasizing their commitment to treating the franchise with respect and care.
The announcement comes at a time when Magic: The Gathering is stronger than ever. The game has established itself as a global phenomenon since its 1993 launch, attracting over 50 million players as of 2023 worldwide and generating over $1 billion annually since 2022. Its success has led to numerous expansions and high-profile collaborations, featuring crossovers with popular franchises like Doctor Who, Fortnite, and Fallout.
For now, any specific details about release dates and production timelines have yet to be announced.
This Magic: The Gathering announcement follows significant changes in Hasbro’s entertainment strategy. The company sold its eOne film and TV business last year to refocus on its core strengths in toys and gaming. Despite this shift, Hasbro’s IP licensing strategy has proven highly successful. According to company reports, Baldur’s Gate 3, developed by Larian Studios, generated $90 million for Hasbro following its 2023 release.
There are also plans for a live-action Monopoly film, as BBC reported back in April that Margot Robbie’s company, LuckyChap, would produce the film with Hasbro. However, there has been no news since then. Meanwhile, the Monopoly Go IP itself has found success in the mobile gaming space, with Scopely’s licensing deal generating over $100 million for Hasbro.
However, not all recent entertainment ventures have hit their mark. The company’s latest movie adaptation in 2023, “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” struggled at the box office despite receiving positive critical reviews.
Nonetheless, Hasbro continues to plan significant investments in gaming, with over $1 billion already invested in its internal studios as part of an ambitious long-term strategy. “Video games are an integral part of Hasbro’s strategy for the next 100 years. We must ensure that everything released is top quality, authentic, and something we can build upon,” Dan Ayoub, head of game studios and publishing at Wizards of the Coast, told gamesindustry.biz last year.