Russo Brothers Exit Netflix’s ‘Magic: The Gathering’ Series, Jeff Kline to Lead New Creative Team
Joe and Anthony Russo and head writers Henry Gilroy and Jose Molina left the animated project over creative differences
Joe and Anthony Russo have exited Netflix’s “Magic: The Gathering” series over creative differences regarding the animated adaptation, TheWrap has learned.
Jeff Kline (“Transformers: Prime”) has replaced them as head of the creative team for the animated show.
Henry Gilroy and Jose Molina — who were set as the head writers for the show centered on the Planeswalker characters from Wizards of the Coast’s “Magic: The Gathering” card game, which was ordered to series at Netflix in 2019 — have also left the project.
The Russo Brothers’ split from the Netflix show, which came in the early stages of the series, is said to be an amicable one, an individual with knowledge tells TheWrap, and they were involved with the transition in leadership to Kline as their replacement.
“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,” Kline said in a statement Friday. “’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, Netflix and Entertainment One, which is producing the “Magic: The Gathering” series for Wizards of the Coast parent company Hasbro, 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.”
Kline’s creative team includes Steve Melching (“Star Wars: The Clone Wars”) as co-executive producer and story editor, Audu Paden as supervising director, Izzy Medrano as art director and Nicole Dubuc, Russell Sommer, Dan Frey and Taneka Stotts as writers.
Deadline first reported the news that Kline had taken over the series following the exits of the Russos, Gilroy and Molina.
also read :
The Russo Brothers Leave Netflix’s Magic: The Gathering Series
Joe and Anthony Russo are dealing out of Magic: The Gathering.
According to Deadline, the brothers are vacating their roles as executive producers on Netflix’s animated series based on the long-running trading card game.
The Russos signed on to produce the show in 2019, and initially had bold plans for the series’ universe. At one point, they even suggested that a live-action spinoff was possible. The brothers were originally working with Henry Gilroy and Jose Molina, who were set to be the series’ showrunners. However, it sounds like Gilroy and Molina are leaving the project as well.
In their place, Netflix has selected former Transformers Prime producer Jeff Kline as Magic’s new executive producer and showrunner. The streamer is also fleshing out the series’ staff with a new team of writers. That includes Nicole Dubuc, Russell Sommer, Dan Frey, and Taneka Stotts. Additionally, Steve Melching has come aboard as story editor and co-executive producer. Audu Paden, and Izzy Medrano have also joined the series as supervising director and art director, respectively.
“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,” said Kline in a new statement. “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.”
Netflix also issued a joint statement with eOne and Wizards of the Coast about the latest shakeup:
“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” the statement reads.
“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,” said Kline in a new statement. “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.”
Netflix also issued a joint statement with eOne and Wizards of the Coast about the latest shakeup:
“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” the statement reads.
also read :
Magic: The Gathering Animated Netflix Series Loses the Russo Brothers
While Netflix is still developing a CG-animated series based on Magic: The Gathering, the project is moving forward without the involvement of Joe and Anthony Russo.
Transformers: Prime co-creator Jeff Kline has joined the project as executive producer, taking over for the Avengers: Endgame directors, as reported by Deadline.
While the project was originally announced with the Russo brothers attached, reports indicate that the duo exited the project early on in the process over disagreements with Netflix on the creative vision for the series. Henry Gilroy (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and Jose Molina (Agent Carter), who were originally tapped to serve as head writers and co-showrunners, also left the project alongside the Russos.
Following the Russo brothers’ departure, Netflix tapped Kline to assemble a team to create a new storyline based on the tabletop trading card game. The Russos met with Kline during the creative transition.
“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,” Kline said. “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.”
Russo brothers
Anthony Russo (born February 3, 1970) and Joseph Russo (born July 18, 1971), collectively known as the Russo brothers (ROO-so), are American directors, producers, screenwriters, and actors. They direct most of their work together.
They are best known for directing four films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Endgame grossed over $2.798 billion worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of all time (not adjusted for inflation). The brothers have also worked as directors and/or producers on the comedy series Arrested Development (2003–2005), Community (2009–2014), and Happy Endings (2011–2012). They won a Primetime Emmy Award for Arrested Development.
The Gathering (miniseries)
The Gathering is a television mini series directed by Bill Eagles, starring Peter Fonda, Peter Gallagher, and Jamie-Lynn Sigler. This thriller was first shown October 13, 2007, on Lifetime Television.
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering (colloquially known as Magic or MTG) is a tabletop and digital collectible card game created by Richard Garfield.
Released in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast (now a subsidiary of Hasbro), Magic was the first trading card game and has approximately thirty-five million players as of December 2018, and over twenty billion Magic cards were produced in the period from 2008 to 2016, during which time it grew in popularity.
Jeff Kline
Jeff Kline is an American film and television writer-producer and former television executive. He has been involved in more than 40 animated and live-action series and pilots, has received multiple Emmy nominations and wins.