MTG x Harry Potter? Don't Hold Your Breath, Says Mark Rosewater
Magic: The Gathering head designer Mark Rosewater has dashed hopes for a Harry Potter crossover, saying it's 'very unlikely' - here's why.
Ever dreamed of casting Avada Kedavra in Magic: The Gathering? Or maybe summoning a Hippogriff to block a Dragon? Well, you might want to wake up, because Mark Rosewater just shut that dream down.
In a recent post on his blog, the head designer for MTG responded to a fan's question about the possibility of a Harry Potter crossover set. His answer? A pretty firm no, saying it's "very unlikely." That's not a hard 'never,' but it's about as close as you're going to get from the man who knows the game's future.
Now, why the hesitation? Rosewater didn't dive deep into specifics, but if you know MTG's history with crossovers, you can read between the lines. They've done Universes Beyond sets like Warhammer 40K, Doctor Who, and Lord of the Rings, so it's not like they're against outside IPs. But Harry Potter brings its own baggage - from licensing hurdles to the ongoing controversies surrounding its creator, J.K. Rowling. It's a licensing and PR minefield that Wizards of the Coast might not want to step into.
Plus, think about the tone. Magic's recent sets have been all over the place - from cyberpunk Kamigawa to gothic Innistrad - but Harry Potter's world is a different kind of fantasy. It's more whimsical, more tied to a specific school setting, and less about planar conflicts. It'd be a challenge to make it feel like Magic without turning it into a Hogwarts expansion pack.
Still, it's fun to imagine what could have been. Imagine a Legendary Creature card for Dumbledore, or a Sorcery called Expecto Patronum that creates a spirit token. But for now, those are just fan fantasies. Rosewater's comment suggests that if you're waiting for a Harry Potter Secret Lair drop, you might be waiting a very long time.
So, what do you think? Would you want a Harry Potter set in MTG, or are you happy with the crossovers we've got? Let me know in the comments below!
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