The saga of the making of the Magic: The Gathering movie has been unfolding for years at this point, but a recent report from MovieWeb clarifies that the movie is still going to happen and that the director has been confirmed.
While the hunt for a director for the live-action adaptation was narrowing down in April of 2025, it appears Matt Johnson has taken the reigns. A quote from Johnson makes it clear the movie is in the works.
“I’m still in the middle of it, that’s very much happening. It’s the biggest project I’ve ever been a part of in my life and I’m amazed it’s happening,” Johnson said. “As of today, as of this conversation, it’s very much full speed ahead.”
Best known for directing the critically acclaimed docudrama BlackBerry (2023), Johnson’s next film, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, debuts in theaters on Feb. 13. His latest movie is a time traveling comedy where the main characters (Johnson and Jay McCarrol) go back to 1998 to attempt to a book a show at the Rivoli.
News of Magic hitting the small and big screen has been rolling in since 2019, with rumors of an animated series on Netflix, its potential demise and revival, multiple showrunner changes for the show, and even the chance of Angelina Jolie playing Liliana Vess making headlines. But very little evidence of anything concrete happening has been released.
No other details for the movie are available at this time, but we will keep track of the project as updates trickle in.
