Netflix has decided it will no longer move forward with its television series adaptation of Mark Millar's The Magic Order. The series had already been in the early stages of pre-production in Prague with a 2021 filming start date being eyed.
In 2017, Netflix acquired Mark Millar's Millarworld comic book production company with plans to develop film and television projects based on the writer's works. Included in this line-up of projects was a series titled The Magic Order, the streaming service's first comic book. Netflix later ordered a television adaptation of The Magic Order with Aquaman director James Wan on board to direct the pilot and serve as executive producer alongside showrunner Lindsey Beer.
Deadline reports the decision to pull the plug on The Magic Order television series was partly due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the large scope of the project. With cases on the rise in The Czech Republic, the outlet has heard at least one member of The Magic Order team within the country has been affected by the virus. Reportedly, the pandemic was not the primary factor in Netflix's decision not to move forward with the series and the streaming service hopes to revisit the project again in the future, although not as currently planned. The series had previously been impacted by the pandemic when Wan had to drop out as director after the COVID-19 shutdowns pushed back the schedule of a film he was working on.
First published in 2018 and illustrated by Olivier Coipel, Millar's The Magic Order centers on the titular five families of magicians who are sworn to protect the world from supernatural and magical threats. By living among the rest of the world as seemingly ordinary people, they are able to hide their exploits as sorcerers, magicians, and wizards from the rest of society. However, the Order is threatened by a mysterious new enemy that begins to take them out one by one.
Netflix made many surprising cancelations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently, the streaming decided against resuming production on the fourth and final season of GLOW, a comedy about the world of women's pro wrestling.
Of course, Netflix is far from the only company in the entertainment industry facing challenges amid the pandemic, with movie theaters arguably faring the worst due to the delays of tentpole studio films. The situation with theaters is so dire that notable filmmakers co-signed a letter to the United States Congress urging lawmakers to provide financial relief to American movie theaters.
The Magic Order comic book series is now available in local comic book shops.
Source: Deadline