“Magic: The Gathering” and Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro since 1999, might find themselves under new ownership by Disney in the middle of next year. After purchasing Lucasfilm last week for almost $4 billion, a rumor has surfaced today that Disney might also acquire Hasbro.
Hasbro currently holds the rights to create licensed “Star Wars” toys, and Disney’s acquisition of the Pawtucket, Rhode Island based game and toy company would allow them to directly control their “Star Wars” merchandise profits.
Hasbro is the owner of several notable properties such as “Transformers,” “G.I. Joe.,” “My Little Pony,” and many others. Wizards of the Coast holds “Dungeons and Dragons,” “Magic: The Gathering,” and “Kaijudo.”
“Kaijudo” and other animated series might move from The Hub to the Disney Channel if this rumor is true.
We might also see a “Magic: The Gathering” cartoon or movie emerge produced by Disney.
Related: Hasbro “won’t produce its own” Magic: the Gathering movie – partners required
If Disney does decide to create a “Magic: The Gathering” cartoon or movie they’d be able to then produce a line of toys, which would most likely feature promotional “Magic: The Gathering” card inserts to cross market fans of the series or movie into playing the card game.
Disney’s acquisition of Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast would mean bad news for IDW, which currently creates “Magic: The Gathering” comics in addition to comics for other Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast intellectual properties.
At the very least, we might see a “Magic: The Gathering” theme park at Disney World where players can meet Jace, the Architect and Vraska the Unseen. Rides could include “Multiverse Racing” go-carts and guests could stay at the luxurious Ivory Tower.
Readers: Do you think Disney would destroy “Magic: The Gathering” or help it drastically grow its reach to new audiences?
You can read the original rumor on MTV Geek.
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Catch up on “Return to Ravnica”
Card lists: White, Blue, Black, Red, Green, Azorius, Izzet, Golgari, Rakdos, Selesnya, Hybrid, Artifact, and Land.
Intro packs: “Rakdos Raid,” “Azorius Advance,” “Golgari Growth,” “Selesnya Surge,” and “Izzet Ingenuity.”
Event decks: “Golgari: Creep and Conquer” and “Rakdos: Wrack and Rage.”
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