Hollywood, CA -- Recently, rumors started circulating about a new movie being made, based on the popular card game Magic the Gathering. Here we bring you an exclusive interview with one of the producers of this soon-to-be-hit movie, who has asked to remain anonymous, at a popular Hollywood bistro.

Me: Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to me today, Mr. ********.

Magic Producer (MP): That's quite alright, glad to do it. Btw, I'll have the McChicken Sandwich with a Diet Pepsi, please.

Me: Excellent choice. Would you like me to Biggie Size that?

MP: No, thank you. Now, what would you like to know?

Me: Well, I think I speak for all in the MtG community when I ask, "Is Magic the Gathering really a good basis for a movie?"

MP: Absolutely. What people don't understand is that right now, Trading Card Games are hot, red hot, and since MtG is the premier card game, it is destined to be the biggest intellectual property of all. In recent years, we have seen many hit movies based on Trading Card Games. Star Wars, Star Trek, even the hit movie The X-Men all have come from the realm of Trading Card Games. Even as we speak, two of the biggest releases of the upcoming holiday season are based off of trading card games, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. By purchasing the rights to Magic the Gathering, we have accomplished a coup not unlike when New Line bought up the rights to make the Dungeons and Dragons movie.

Me: Um, I don't think the Lord of the Rings card game is out yet.

MP: Yes, but the release of the card game is emminent, part of their marketing strategy is for the card game's popularity to boost ticket sales.

Me: Okay. Well, tell us a bit about the MtG movie, is it based on the rich storyline and background that the people at WotC have developed over the last few years?

MP: Actually, no, we have decided to go a different route. We originally were going to do a trilogy based on the "Invasion" series, but our special effects budget was not adequate to do that storyline justice. In fact, I believe our special effects budget is somewhere around the same as our petty cash budget. So instead, we have decided to focus our movie about the high stakes world of Professional Magic!

Me: You mean, like the Pro Tour?

MP: The what?

Me: Um, never mind, please continue.

MP: Well, the movie is kind of a cross between "The Karate Kid" and "Rocky III". Or is it "Rocky IV"? The one where Mr. T. plays a Russian.

Me: That might be Rocky 6.

MP: Could be, could be. Anyway, we have this young up-and-comer, named Johnson Andrews, he's the hero. He's young, and good at Magic, but he's too wild and reckless. It gets him into all sorts of scrapes and narrow escapes, as he hustles Magic the Gathering halls across the country. Anyway, the hero meets a 'mentor' type, named Eric Buehler, who used to be the hotshot back in his youth, but now, he's off his game. He sees himself in Johnson, and tries to teach him the ways of the true professional. Along the way they run afoul of one of the roughest magic players around, Jon Budde.

Me: Um, does your company have a legal department?

MP: Yes, why do you ask?

Me: No reason. So, what happens next?

MP: Well, there's this montage of scenes showing Johnson's rise through the ranks of Professional Magic, with cameos from 'real' professionals like Joshua Claytor and Theron Martin. All the while, Eric Buehler, his mentor, is trying to control his wild playing, while Johnson's girlfrend keeps pushing him to make more money. You see, he has promised his girlfriend Rebecca that he would stop playing and marry her once he wins the World Series of Magic. She knows how the life of a professional player can destroy a man, because her father is head of the DCI, Mike Bush.
Me: So, her name is Rebecca Bush?

MP: Yes.

Me: Uh huh. Moving right along, have you cast all the parts yet?

MP: Oh, the cast is the best thing about this movie! We have some of the hottest new talent in Hollywood lined up for this movie! For example, we originally had Matt Damon slated to play Johnson Andrews.

Me: What? Matt Damon agreed to be in this movie?

MP: Sadly, we could not come to an agreement on salary. Apparently after the huge success of 'Bagger Vance', he's raised his asking price. So instead, we got someone even better! Neil Patrick Harris has agreed to play the young up-and-comer Johnson Andrews!

Me: You mean 'Doogie Howser'?

MP: Yes! You see, it's *that* kind of recognition that will win the audiences over! And for Eric Buehler, we have gotten one of Hollywood's most distinguished and loveable actors, Pat Morita.

Me: Doogie Howser and Mr Miyagi, eh? I guess Tom Cruise and Paul Newman weren't available.

MP: Sadly, no. Of course, the biggest stroke of genius in casting came with the part of Rebecca Bush. We needed someone who was warm and tender for the mainstream audience, yet still have enough appeal for the niche 'gamer' market, so we acquired Natalie Portman as the love interest.
Me: !!!! *THE* Natalie Portman?!?!?!?

MP: Yes. She was quite excited about the project.

Has she read the script?

MP: Not yet, we sent her one yesterday though.

Me: Ahh. One last thing, do you feel Hollywood will be able to accurately portray the world of Professional Magic?

MP: Absolutely. In fact, we have hired as a technical consultant one of the foremost magic players in the world. World Champion Zak Dolan will be on-hand to ensure complete authenticity with the world of high-stakes Magic the Gathering. With his help, we are hoping to bring the most realistic and true-to-life depiction of Magic the Gathering as has ever been seen on film. With our movie, "The Colour of Magic", we are hoping to do for MtG what "Gleaming the Cube" did for professional skating.

Me: Thank you for that interview, and here is your McChicken Sandwich. Thank you for dining at Burger Hut, and come again!

Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!

Hollywood, CA -- Recently, rumors started circulating about a new movie being made, based on the popular card game Magic the Gathering. Here we bring you an exclusive interview with one of the producers of this soon-to-be-hit movie, who has asked to remain anonymous, at a popular Hollywood bistro.

Me: Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to me today, Mr. ********.

Magic Producer (MP): That's quite alright, glad to do it. Btw, I'll have the McChicken Sandwich with a Diet Pepsi, please.

Me: Excellent choice. Would you like me to Biggie Size that?

MP: No, thank you. Now, what would you like to know?

Me: Well, I think I speak for all in the MtG community when I ask, "Is Magic the Gathering really a good basis for a movie?"

MP: Absolutely. What people don't understand is that right now, Trading Card Games are hot, red hot, and since MtG is the premier card game, it is destined to be the biggest intellectual property of all. In recent years, we have seen many hit movies based on Trading Card Games. Star Wars, Star Trek, even the hit movie The X-Men all have come from the realm of Trading Card Games. Even as we speak, two of the biggest releases of the upcoming holiday season are based off of trading card games, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. By purchasing the rights to Magic the Gathering, we have accomplished a coup not unlike when New Line bought up the rights to make the Dungeons and Dragons movie.

Me: Um, I don't think the Lord of the Rings card game is out yet.

MP: Yes, but the release of the card game is emminent, part of their marketing strategy is for the card game's popularity to boost ticket sales.

Me: Okay. Well, tell us a bit about the MtG movie, is it based on the rich storyline and background that the people at WotC have developed over the last few years?

MP: Actually, no, we have decided to go a different route. We originally were going to do a trilogy based on the "Invasion" series, but our special effects budget was not adequate to do that storyline justice. In fact, I believe our special effects budget is somewhere around the same as our petty cash budget. So instead, we have decided to focus our movie about the high stakes world of Professional Magic!

Me: You mean, like the Pro Tour?

MP: The what?

Me: Um, never mind, please continue.

MP: Well, the movie is kind of a cross between "The Karate Kid" and "Rocky III". Or is it "Rocky IV"? The one where Mr. T. plays a Russian.

Me: That might be Rocky 6.

MP: Could be, could be. Anyway, we have this young up-and-comer, named Johnson Andrews, he's the hero. He's young, and good at Magic, but he's too wild and reckless. It gets him into all sorts of scrapes and narrow escapes, as he hustles Magic the Gathering halls across the country. Anyway, the hero meets a 'mentor' type, named Eric Buehler, who used to be the hotshot back in his youth, but now, he's off his game. He sees himself in Johnson, and tries to teach him the ways of the true professional. Along the way they run afoul of one of the roughest magic players around, Jon Budde.

Me: Um, does your company have a legal department?

MP: Yes, why do you ask?

Me: No reason. So, what happens next?

MP: Well, there's this montage of scenes showing Johnson's rise through the ranks of Professional Magic, with cameos from 'real' professionals like Joshua Claytor and Theron Martin. All the while, Eric Buehler, his mentor, is trying to control his wild playing, while Johnson's girlfrend keeps pushing him to make more money. You see, he has promised his girlfriend Rebecca that he would stop playing and marry her once he wins the World Series of Magic. She knows how the life of a professional player can destroy a man, because her father is head of the DCI, Mike Bush.
Me: So, her name is Rebecca Bush?

MP: Yes.

Me: Uh huh. Moving right along, have you cast all the parts yet?

MP: Oh, the cast is the best thing about this movie! We have some of the hottest new talent in Hollywood lined up for this movie! For example, we originally had Matt Damon slated to play Johnson Andrews.

Me: What? Matt Damon agreed to be in this movie?

MP: Sadly, we could not come to an agreement on salary. Apparently after the huge success of 'Bagger Vance', he's raised his asking price. So instead, we got someone even better! Neil Patrick Harris has agreed to play the young up-and-comer Johnson Andrews!

Me: You mean 'Doogie Howser'?

MP: Yes! You see, it's *that* kind of recognition that will win the audiences over! And for Eric Buehler, we have gotten one of Hollywood's most distinguished and loveable actors, Pat Morita.

Me: Doogie Howser and Mr Miyagi, eh? I guess Tom Cruise and Paul Newman weren't available.

MP: Sadly, no. Of course, the biggest stroke of genius in casting came with the part of Rebecca Bush. We needed someone who was warm and tender for the mainstream audience, yet still have enough appeal for the niche 'gamer' market, so we acquired Natalie Portman as the love interest.
Me: !!!! *THE* Natalie Portman?!?!?!?

MP: Yes. She was quite excited about the project.

Has she read the script?

MP: Not yet, we sent her one yesterday though.

Me: Ahh. One last thing, do you feel Hollywood will be able to accurately portray the world of Professional Magic?

MP: Absolutely. In fact, we have hired as a technical consultant one of the foremost magic players in the world. World Champion Zak Dolan will be on-hand to ensure complete authenticity with the world of high-stakes Magic the Gathering. With his help, we are hoping to bring the most realistic and true-to-life depiction of Magic the Gathering as has ever been seen on film. With our movie, "The Colour of Magic", we are hoping to do for MtG what "Gleaming the Cube" did for professional skating.

Me: Thank you for that interview, and here is your McChicken Sandwich. Thank you for dining at Burger Hut, and come again!

Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!