Maya Hawke is set to star in the upcoming live-action Magic: The Gathering movie from Legendary Entertainment and Hasbro Entertainment. Directed by Matt Johnson, the fantasy feature will be part of a planned film and television universe inspired by the iconic trading card game.
Maya Hawke is best known for playing Robin Buckley in Stranger Things. Hawke is expected to play a key role in the ensemble film, although her character has not yet been revealed. Producers reportedly made her their first casting priority, approaching the actress before auditions for several other roles.
Legendary Entertainment and Hasbro Entertainment are developing the feature as part of a wider screen expansion of the Magic: The Gathering universe.
What Is the Magic: The Gathering Movie About?
Plot details for the Magic: The Gathering movie have not yet been announced. The film is based on the fantasy world of the trading card game, which centres on powerful spellcasters known as Planeswalkers. Players take on the role of these magic-wielding characters, summoning creatures, casting spells and using artefacts across a multiverse of fantastical worlds.
Created by Richard Garfield and launched in 1993, Magic: The Gathering became the first trading card game and has since grown into a global entertainment franchise. Its mythology spans numerous fantasy settings, while its expanding catalogue includes collaborations with major properties such as Final Fantasy, Marvel, Star Trek, Dungeons & Dragons and The Lord of the Rings.
The franchise has more than 50 million fans worldwide, with an ecosystem that extends beyond physical cards to digital games, novels, publishing, live events and competitive tournaments.
Who Is Directing the Magic: The Gathering Movie?
Matt Johnson, known for directing BlackBerry and Nirvanna the Band the Show, will direct the live-action film. Johnson is also writing the screenplay alongside Noah Gardner and Aidan Fitzgerald, both of whom previously worked on the television series Calls.
The upcoming feature is expected to have an ensemble cast, with Hawke among its central performers. Further casting announcements and details about the characters have yet to be confirmed.
Will Magic: The Gathering Become a Movie and TV Universe?
The Legendary and Hasbro partnership extends beyond a single feature film. Announced in February 2025, the collaboration aims to build a live-action entertainment universe based on the trading card franchise, with television projects and additional content planned as the world expands.
The live-action movie is intended to lead the initiative. Separately, Netflix has also been developing an animated Magic: The Gathering series, representing another screen adaptation of the franchise.
What Is Maya Hawke Working on Next?
Hawke’s casting adds another major franchise project to her growing filmography. Following her breakout role as Robin Buckley in Netflix’s Stranger Things, she appeared in films including Inside Out 2, Asteroid City, Do Revenge, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Maestro.
Her upcoming projects include The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Graham Parkes’ romantic comedy Wishful Thinking and Netflix’s God of the Woods.
With Hawke now attached, the Magic: The Gathering movie has taken its first significant step towards assembling its cast. However, the film’s release date, production schedule and further casting details have not yet been announced.
