Netflix's Magic: The Gathering series is set for a late 2022 release date. Created by Richard Garfield, the tabletop game was originally released in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast, which is now a subsidiary of Hasbro. Considered the first trading card game ever, MTG sees players taking on the role of Planeswalkers, who use a combination of creature, spell, and artifact cards to defeat their opponent. Since the game exploded in popularity in 2008, over 20 billion cards have been produced and put into circulation. Magic is now played by over 35 million people worldwide.

Development of a Magic: The Gathering film from Hasbro and Universal began over a decade ago, but the rights were eventually sold off to 20th Century Fox, which were then acquired by Disney during their purchase of the studio in 2019. After they elected to cancel the project, Hasbro found a new partner in Netflix with the intent of producing an animated series that would lead into a live-action spinoff. Since the Russo brothers have left the project and Jeff Kline has taken over as showrunner,  it's unclear if this is still the plan, but Netflix is moving full steam ahead with the animated series. Brandon Routh was recently cast in the lead role of Gideon Jura and now there is more exciting news to report.

Related: Why MTG Just Banned 15 Cards (& What It Means For Magic's Future)

During Magic's annual showcase event, it was announced by the series star himself, Brandon Routh, that the highly-anticipated Magic: The Gathering animated series will be coming to Netflix in late 2022. Unfortunately, no other details regarding the release date, cast, or other characters were provided. Read what the recently cast Routh had to say when he made the announcement:

I love this world and I'm very excited to be a part of this animated series. I hope you all will enjoy it in 2022. Thanks Magic fans and I'll see you around the Multiverse.

Magic The Gathering Netflix Main

Routh previously voiced Ral Zarek in an MTG video from 2019 called Magic: The Gathering Arena. In Netflix's upcoming animated series, Routh will be voicing Gideon Jura, described as an "unfalteringly heroic Planeswalker in the Magic: The Gathering multiverse." While the show will include plenty of well-known Planeswalkers like Gideon, it will also incorporate new characters and follow an entirely original storyline. Therefore, diehard MTG fans and newcomers alike will be able to dive into Netlfix's series and enjoy it.

Anytime Netflix produces a series based on an already established and popular IP, there is a good chance it will become a hit, as evidenced by The Witcher. The MTG series is shaping up to have a lot in common with the hit fantasy series, as both of their lead stars have portrayed Superman, Henry Cavill in Man of Steel and subsequent DCEU movies, and Routh in 2006's Superman Returns. Both actors have also had a longtime love for these properties which precedes their casting. Given that its release date has been set for late 2022, there's a good chance the MTG series airs in December, the same time The Witcher also premiered. For now, it remains to be seen if Netflix's Magic: The Gathering series can live up to one of its most popular properties.

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Source: Magic: The Gathering