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EXCLUSIVE: MYST, the all-time top selling computer adventure game franchise, has been optioned for live action film treatment. Producers Hunt Lowry and Mark Johnson have partnered with Adrian Vanderbosch and Isaac Testerman of Mysteria Film Group. Mysteria got the rights from game developers Cyan Worlds. MYST debuted in 1993 and expanded with four top-selling sequels. It established a market for multi-platform CD-ROM gaming and continues to be the biggest selling adventure game ever.
Trouble is, MYST became popular for the atmospheric experience it provided, but it isn’t as easily adaptable as some vidgames because it doesn’t have a simple linear narrative. It does have a strong mythology that creates possibilities, though. Johnson is the producer of the upcoming The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and the hope is to bring the distinctive world of Myst as was done with Narnia.
One focus of the film will be the influence of a human who entered Myst and inadvertently brought down the civilization. Johnson and Lowry are separately teamed on an adaptation of the John Grisham novel The Testament. With Vanderbosch and Testerman, they are on the hunt for a writer before they shop it to studios. “Our aim with this project is to stretch the genres it operated within, much like the source material did,” Vanderbosch said. “It is such an innovative property and by utilizing the novels as our primary resource, we have the opportunity to offer audiences the essence of MYST without being limited only to the famous island of the first game. Our focus has always been on creating an entirely new visual experience driven by engaging characters and an epic narrative.”
The filmmakers will draw the plot from the mythology within the games, as well as a trilogy of companion novels Cyan Worlds published around them. Players enter a highly atmospheric world and solve a series of puzzles that unlock secrets to this mysterious world. Players can liberate characters trapped inside of books, but have to decide which ones are good and evil. The goal of players was to return to Myst Island and rescue its owner from his imprisonment inside one of the books. The novels provided clues to the backstory of the island the curious civilization known as the D’ni and the infinite number of worlds they could create and control. Cory Lanier and Tom Williams will be co-producers.
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I can’t wait for this movie! The three Myst novels are actually all fantastic. (And it goes without saying that the games are brilliant as well).
A true adventure game into a movie… great idea! Is there any movie maker out there wishing to have a look at “A Quiet weekend in Capri” or to “Anacapri the Dream”? These are Myst-type adventure games but with REAL characters in a REAL (and fantastic) place like the REAL island of Capri! See http://www.caprisaga.com.
Prediction: A “Myst” movie based on the Myst novels will do for video games what Star Wars did for science fiction. It will be truly awesome at the box office. Remember “Serenity?” Fan-supported “Done the Impossible!”
I feel that this is good timing for a Myst movie. People are craving good fantasy films and Myst has elements of both fantasy and sci-fi. Cool machines, traveling to different worlds, subterannean cities . . . Truly a feast for the eyes.
Let’s get one thing clear here: this is not an adaptation of “Myst”, the video game. It contains only very loose ties to the game.
What it is is an adaptation of the book “Myst: The Book of Ti’ana”. This was written during the development of “Riven: The Sequel to Myst” to explain the main (and very expansive) backstory of the D’ni civilization from which the in-game books (which are “Ages”, or worlds of sorts) come from. Myst itself is one of the “Ages”, and represents only a very, very tiny part of the whole story arc of Myst.
In fact, the games only really tell the story of one D’ni man and his family. The whole story of fall of D’ni is told by the book on which this film is based.
The games were opaque, the books incomprehensible. Good luck in development hell.
MandM – You are opaque and incomprehensible. Good luck in mental development hell.
Guess I wasn’t so opaque you didn’t understand.
This is fantastic news. I have been following this project for a while now and I couldn’t be more excited that the stars are finally lining up. The Myst series has always been a richly layered universe that only gets better the more you dig. I think a film is the logical next step in this franchise and I have a lot of faith in the Mysteriacs dedication to doing this right. They are after all Myst fans them selves and embody the creativity, patience, and perseverance I have come to associate with this fan base. Keep up the good work guys.
I remember when Myst fans first heard about this project a couple of years ago. I’m excited to see that the creators have been able to secure a good position in making the movie.
“Book of Ti’Ana” was always my favorite of the Myst stories, in either novel or game form. The others are entertaining, but Book of Ti’Ana was the one that felt the most epic. I’ve always said that if they ever made a Myst movie, it should be based on that book. The tragic fall of a multiple-worlds-spanning civilization will make one terrific film if done right.
BTW–a special thanks to all the critics who posted unfounded comments without even reading the article or knowing anything about what they were talking about. Reading their words gave me the best laughs I’ve had in a while
. All you knowledgeable fans who refuted them with reason, common sense and simple fact–shame on you for ruining the comedy! 
Seems most commenters have a good understanding of what the movie is.
Myst was a very artistic game, it’s not full of exiting gameplay, but a lot of passion for the worlds and the people. Which works well for a movie. I din’t read the novels, but I have played Myst 1-5 and Uru CC and Uru Live (again). I have also learned up on the history, so basically I can also say that it will work. And I really do hope it will come out in 2013.
This is a really big deal. There is a big community for this game out there, so there is a lot at stake if they actually are doing a film. A few problems I have is that you played as yourself, it won’t be as personal when an actor is playing the part; the plot unfolded itself under your time, the movie will only take 2 hours. I just see problem after problem with this project, I don’t even know how to do it right.
It was repeatedly stated in the above comments that the movie will be based in a book about myst universe, not in video game myst itself. If you read the aforementioned book (“The book of Ti’ana”), you will see that the book’s narrative is ideal for movie adaptation. The movie, if it is done right, will kick some serious asses!
I’m amazed as so many people who would rather insist that the earth is flat, Apple Computers will never get off the ground and will go bust by 1997, making a trilogy of Lord of the Rings – and in new Zealand at that – is destined to be a flop,… why can’t people just say – “Hey sure, give it a go! What have I got to lose?”
People who can’t support any idea are simply self-defeatist and can’t survive in the real world without the cheats to score the biggest gun and the best upgrades and walk around thinking themselves as the Ultimate God Mode!…. gimme a break – make the movie and good luck to them.
I feel the need to point out (cbf reading all the comments, don’t care if someone already said this) that you don’t “create” an age, you just create a link to a world that already exists somewhere in the universe. thus, you don’t own the ages you write or anything. as was shown in the book of D’ni
I played this game when I was in junior high. I’m 23 now and it (along with the sequels) are still played regularly! I thought this game had a well thought out plot and challenging puzzles. I remember many late nights and pages of notes for this game.
WOW, Loved this game as a kid, and I remember bits and pieces, just bought it off steam but it keeps crashing. and ITS GOING TO BE A MOVIE!!! Gosh, would love to have a part in the movies, as loving it as a kid, all the philosophy and ideology in the games was AMAZING, Would be the highlight of my life
Loved the games, would LOVE the movies, Can’t wait
Fantastic story, Great history, Fantastic art and creatures and concepts AHHH love it
thats it, Love it 