Legendary TV & Digital Media has announced plans to produce a 10-episode season based on the popular Myst and Riven videogames from Spokane-based Cyan Worlds Inc.
The not-yet-scheduled series will run on on Hulu, the company said.
Legendary, based in Burbank, California, plans to release specifics about the project later this year, a company spokesman said.
Cyan began discussions with Legendary more than a year ago. While Cyan had entertained some earlier overtures for a film version of the Myst saga, the deal with Legendary evolved because of the California company’s impressive list of quality movies and TV productions, said Cyan CEO Rand Miller.
Legendary shopped a treatment of the Myst story written by Evan Daugherty to a number of cable and digital content firms.
“Hulu made the best offer and, as far as Cyan is concerned was the best choice. We are thrilled that Hulu is going to develop the series,” said Blake Lewin, head of business development for Cyan.
Myst, released in 1993, became the best-selling video game ever, until The Sims surpassed it in 2002.
In the Myst games, players use assorted clues and links to unravel mysteries about a number of linked worlds. The game has several endings, depending on the course of action the player takes.
Lewin added that Legendary’s TV team is exploring a number of narrative approaches to create an “amazing” storyline for the series.
Legendary has produced several notable video versions of popular comic book superhero stories and videogames, including “World of Warcraft,” “Watchmen” and “Man of Steel.”
Miller said his firm retains limited control of the project. “We have formal and informal control at various levels, but the informal is much more useful — we want to offer our opinion, but we want the writer to have the freedom to do what he does best,” he said.
Miller may take a cameo acting role in the Hulu series, he said. He has appeared in some of the later game versions of Myst, appearing as Atrus, a key figure in the Myst universe.
Cyan is completing its next videogame, called Obduction. Cyan hopes to release it later this year.
Legendary has said it has plans to include a companion video game that can be played along with the show.
“Seventy percent of tablet owners use their device watching TV at least several times a week,” a Cyan release said. “Cyan sees the potential to push the boundaries of interactive storytelling to a new level.”
