MAGIC: THE GATHERING Animated Series - The Russo Bros. Are Out and Jeff Kline Is In

A couple of years ago it was announced that Netflix was producing a CG animated Magic: The Gathering series with Marvel’s Joe and Anthony Russo. Well, the Russo Bros. are no longer involved with the project and they have been replaced with Jeff Kline (Transformers: Prime).

The Russo Bros. and their team actually ended up leaving the project early on in development, “over different visions for how best to adapt the IP.” Deadline reports that the “parting of the ways was amicable, and Netflix subsequently tapped Kline to oversee the creation of an all-new storyline and expand on the stories of the Planeswalkers, Magic’s unique magic-wielding heroes and villains.”

Apparently, the Russo Bros. were involved in the transition and met with Kline before they departed. I’ve personally heard that there’s been some behind the scenes drama on the series and a few other things going on with the show. From what I understand, the Russos actually had an awesome vision for the series, but for one reason or another, the executives didn’t bite.

Regardless of all that, Kline shared in a statement, “I’m grateful to the Russos for bringing me into the world of Magic: The Gathering – specifically, over dinner at one of their go-to Cleveland restaurants. Magic is one of those rare intellectual properties with such a wellspring of mythology that ‘picking and choosing’ is half the battle. Every single person working on the series understands how beloved this universe is – and feels both the exhilaration and tremendous pressure that comes with translating Magic across mediums.”

Wizards of the Coast and Netflix said in a joint statement, “While the Russo Brothers are no longer part of the animated series, their passion for the game combined with their early creative perspective and input helped us to shape the project to a place where we believe fans of the game and those new to the ‘Gathering Universe’ will enjoy the series and discover what millions of fans around the globe have known for the past 25 years.”

We’ll eventually see if they’re actually able to give fans the awesome adaptation that we’ve been waiting for. I was really excited when the Russos jumped on board. The fact that they had an awesome direction they wanted to take the series and the executives didn’t care for it is worrisome to me. After all, these guys directed some of the most epic and incredible Marvel movies, they have also done some insanely great TV, and they know what they are doing. They know how to tell great stories.

It was also announced that the animation will be done by Snowball Studios, taking over the originally announced Bardel Studio.

Do you think it was a good move to replace the Russo Bros. with Jeff Kline?