After what feels like an eternity of wishing on shooting stars for an animated adaptation of Magic: The Gathering, the first look at Netflix‘s Magic: The Gathering: Planeswalker is finally here! The upcoming animated series debuts in 2027, though the exact release date remains shrouded in mystery.
From 1993 Tabletop Phenomenon to Animated Epic
Created by mathematician Richard Garfield and published by Wizards of the Coast in 1993, Magic: The Gathering revolutionized tabletop gaming as the world’s very first trading card game. For more than three decades, players have been shuffling decks, slinging spells, and tapping mana to duke it out across a sprawling multiverse of planes, turning what started as a niche convention hit into a global juggernaut with tens of millions of devoted fans. Given its rich, multi-planar lore, iconic creatures, and larger-than-life heroes, it’s honestly wild it took this long for the franchise to make the leap to serialized animation.
A Multiverse on the Brink: What Planeswalker Is About
Here’s the official synopsis for Magic: The Gathering: Planeswalker:
“‘Planeswalker,’ an epic fantasy saga from the world of ‘Magic: The Gathering,’ chronicles the fierce clash between formidable mages known as Planeswalkers. At the center of this struggle for power and survival burns Chandra, a volatile pyromancer hunted for her gifts, and haunted by her past. Confronted by an insidious force, Chandra and some of the most legendary Planeswalkers must harness their extraordinary abilities, navigate treacherous alliances, and battle their own inner demons to prevent a cataclysmic war that threatens to consume their very existence. As the line between victory and annihilation grows thinner, a single spark determines the fate of thousands of worlds.”
A Six-Year Journey Through Development Hell
Getting Planeswalker off the ground has been a wilder ride than a multi-player Commander match. The series has been in development at Netflix for over six years. Originally announced in 2019, the initial version was overseen by Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo before Jeff Kline stepped in as the project’s new executive producer and creative lead in 2021. By 2024, Brandon Routh—who was attached to voice the show’s lead character, Gideon Jura—stated he believed the project was “not happening.” Fortunately, Star Trek: Picard season 3 showrunner Terry Matalas stepped into the breach to right the ship and bring this long-awaited adaptation to life.
Are you excited to finally see Magic: The Gathering hit Netflix in 2027? Who are your favorite Planeswalkers? Let us know in the comments section below!
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