Here’s another acclaimed indie filmmaker deciding to go full-on IP on his next project. We’re losing them by the dozens, every year.
Matt Johnson, who helmed the excellent “Blackberry,” is set to direct an adaptation of the Hasbro game “Magic: The Gathering.” Why? Well, $$$$ (and I’m sure he was a fan of the game growing up in the ‘90s).
The rage in hollywood these days seems to be game adaptations: Minecraft, Sonic, Super Mario, Sonic, Mortal Kombat, Pokemon, Resident Evil, Angry Birds. Studio execs treat these IPs as goldmines.
A year ago, Legendary and Hasbro announced their intention to launch a Magic film and TV universe, and Johnson seems to be their guy on the movie front. Of course, at the moment, he’s still in talks, but Deadline seems to indicate that a deal will be reached soon.
Marking Hasbro’s first $1 billion brand, Magic: The Gathering is recognized as the world’s first trading card game, having connected with more than 50 million fans of all ages worldwide since 1993. In the game, players take on the role of planeswalkers, powerful spellcasters who summon creatures, cast spells, and use artifacts to defeat their opponents.
Johnson is a talented filmmaker, and it’s not just because of “BlackBerry.” He co-wrote, directed, and starred in the hysterical “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie,” a comedy based on a Canadian series, which was just picked up by Neon.
He previously helmed the Sundance-hit, and NASA conspiracy satire, “Operation Avalanche,” and most intriguing, is supposed to direct A24’s Anthony Bourdain biopic “Tony,” starring Dominic Sessa.