Fans of the card game that has run for more than thirty years received solid confirmation this week that an animated series is finally moving ahead. Netflix and Wizards of the Coast revealed the title Planeswalker during MagicCon Atlanta, along with a 2027 release window and a short development diary that shows early concept art, character models, and brief animation tests. The project was first announced in 2019 with the Russo brothers attached, then stalled when they left over creative differences. A restart began in 2024 under new leadership, and the latest footage aims to settle lingering doubts about whether the show would ever reach screens.
Chandra Nalaar is at the center of the plot. The official description depicts her as a pyromancer who is on the run due to her abilities and carries the burden of her traumatic past. Some unseen power begins to draw her into a much larger fight, putting her against other Planeswalkers, including Ajani Goldmane, the tough-as-nails leonin warrior. They face a difficult path ahead as they navigate some questionable relationships and tame their personal demons, all while preventing a conflict that might destroy millions of worlds. According to the synopsis, a single spark could decide the fate of the entire multiverse.
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Each new universe the characters end up in will have its unique style and feel. Patrick Osborne, the supervising director, adds that each plane is an own tiny universe, complete with its own culture, architectural style, and language. The production team intends to change the look of the film as it transitions from one universe to another, thus the camera work, tempo, and overall presentation of the show will change as the story develops.
A montage in the sneak peek includes a vehicle that resembles an art deco design associated with New Capenna, illustrating how individual planes will look and feel different from one another. Terry Matalas (who previously worked on Star Trek: Picard and 12 Monkeys) is in charge of making the project a reality. Cindy Appel serves as co-showrunner, while Patrick Osborne, an Oscar winner, oversees everything. DIGIC Pictures, a Budapest-based studio, is doing the animation.
Matalas has stated that the source material consisted of hundreds and thousands of cards, each offering a look into a completely different world, and that the process of bringing all of that to life was an incredible dream come true. A series producer who has been a longtime fan of the game says witnessing all of the components they had been working on come to life was a genuine thrill.
Magic: The Gathering debuted in 1993 and has since expanded into a massive franchise that includes digital versions, novels, comics, and competitive tournaments all over the world, with events taking place in over 150 countries. Planeswalkers are the powerful mages who travel between planes and serve as the game’s central heroes and antagonists. The animated series marks the first major television adaptation of that multiverse. A separate live-action film is also in development, but the Netflix project focuses on animation as the practical way to move between so many distinct environments without prohibitive costs
