20th Century Fox has just acquired the film rights to Magic: The Gathering. Hasbro’s fantasy card game has been around for over twenty years now and features witches, wizards, and other mythical beings engaging in epic battles. Fox wants the franchise to be something on the level of what the Harry Potter films were to Warner Bros- i.e. money-printing machines.

They’ve all ready tapped Simon Kinberg to produce, and it’s clear they have faith in the man. He’s also the man shepherding the X-Men and Fantastic Four films for the studio. The writer-producer is reportedly personally overseeing the development of the series, working with Hasbro to try and bring Magic: The Gathering to life.

The game was originally brought to the world via Wizards of The Coast in 1993. The company was bought by Hasbro in 1999 after the game became a sensation throughout the 90s, with players, comic book shops, and more setting up tournaments and demand for the cards reaching frenzied levels.

Eventually,the tournaments became worldwide events. The game continues to thrive and expand via online gaming, and the passion of fantasy fans. Fox thinks the film could become their Lord of The Rings.

As of now, no director or writers have been announced.

SOURCE: THR