‘Myst’ Is Being Turned into a TV Series

Screenshot from Myst
Screenshot from Myst

Myst is morphing.

Cyan Worlds has signed a deal with Legendary Entertainment to turn the classic adventure game into a series, though it remains to be determined whether it will air on television or online.

The project is envisioned as a drama with transmedia properties, which hints that Rand and Robyn Miller, the brothers behind Cyan, believe the time might be right to bring Myst back to the forefront of the gaming world. They’ll be “creatively involved” in the making of the the adaptation as well.

“Cyan’s goal in working with Legendary is not just to create a compelling TV drama but to develop a true transmedia product that will include a companion video game that extends the story across both media,” the company said in a statement. “Seventy percent of tablet owners use their device while watching TV at least several times a week. Cyan sees the potential to push the boundaries of interactive storytelling to a new level.”

That’s basically what Myst did when it was first released back in 1993. Players took on the role of “The Stranger” and set about solving curious puzzles to uncover the secrets of a bizarre island. It was a huge hit for its time; taken together, Myst and its sequels (Riven and Myst Online: Uru) have sold more than 15 million copies.

Legendary is certainly a fan of turning games into movies. The company is already working on film adaptations of Dead Rising and Mass Effect and is working with Blizzard on the big-screen version of World of Warcraft.

Cyan is also working on what it has called a “spiritual successor” to Myst called Obduction, which raised $1.3 million on Kickstarter last year.

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