Maya Hawke has been cast in the live-action Magic: The Gathering movie, Deadline first reported on November 4, 2026 — the first major casting for the long-gestating adaptation.
Hawke is the first actor cast in the film and is expected to play a key role in an ensemble cast. Her exact character has not been announced, and the plot remains undisclosed.
Matt Johnson, the director behind BlackBerry, is directing the film and co-writing the script with Noah Gardner and Aidan Fitzgerald. Legendary Entertainment and Hasbro Entertainment are producing.
The film is based on the trading card game first launched in 1993, one of the most enduring fantasy franchises in pop culture — a property with three decades of lore for the filmmakers to draw on.
Hawke is best known as Robin Buckley in Netflix’s Stranger Things and as the voice of Anxiety in Pixar’s Inside Out 2. Landing the first role in the ensemble puts her at the centre of one of the most closely watched fantasy adaptations in development.
Read also: Ben Wang in talks to play Iceman in Marvel’s X-Men reboot and Sony joins Lionsgate for live-action Naruto movie
Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.