Netflix's 'Planeswalker': 'Magic: The Gathering' Series Set for 2027

Netflix will release its animated "Magic: The Gathering" series, titled "Planeswalker," in 2027. The streamer has unveiled the first-look image, with an exact release date to be announced later.

The series is produced in partnership with Hasbro Entertainment and Wizards of the Coast. According to Netflix's official description, the show is "an epic fantasy saga from the world of 'Magic: The Gathering'" that "chronicles the fierce clash between formidable mages known as Planeswalkers."

The description centers on Chandra, "a volatile pyromancer hunted for her gifts, and haunted by her past." Netflix's logline continues: "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."

Who is making the series?

Terry Matalas and Cindy Appel serve as executive producers and co-showrunners. Patrick Osborne is an executive producer and supervising director. Gabriel Marano will also serve as executive producer, and Lauren Chavez-Myers will co-executive produce for Hasbro Entertainment. Daisy West is a producer on the series. The animation comes from studio Digic.

The creative team represents the third iteration of leadership on the project.

Why did the show take six years?

Netflix first announced the series in 2019, with the Russo brothers of Marvel Cinematic Universe fame overseeing the first iteration. The Russos departed over creative differences, and Jeff Kline was named executive producer and creative lead in 2021. Brandon Routh was announced shortly after as the voice of the series lead.

The project then went quiet until 2024, when Routh said in an interview that he believed the show was "not happening" anymore. Not long after that statement, Matalas was named the new showrunner.

How big is 'Magic: The Gathering'?

Richard Garfield created the tabletop card game, first released in 1993. In the three decades since, the game has spawned:

• a digital game
• an esports league
• a comic book series
• a best-selling novel

The game has been published in 11 languages in more than 70 countries.

By Elena Vasquez

The 2027 debut will test whether a card game that turned 30 in 2023 can anchor a flagship animated fantasy franchise for Netflix, after six years, three creative regimes and one public near-cancellation.