Cyan cuts deal with Legendary to create a TV series based on Myst

Cyan Worlds has signed a deal with TV show maker Legendary to develop the Myst video game into a TV series.

Spokane, Wash.-based developer Cyan is still run by Rand Miller, the co-creator of Myst. Few games have been as popular and beloved as Myst, which has sold more than 15 million copies, counting all of its sequels. It has a direct brand awareness with 40 million players, and Myst was the No. 1 computer game of the 20th century. Its sequel, Riven, was the No. 4 bestselling computer game of the 20th century, and both games are still in the top 10 bestselling computer games of all time.

The game series included Myst, Riven, three additional sequels, and Myst Online: Uru. There were three bestselling Myst novels, and now the franchise may finally see its debut on television.

Cyan is teaming with Legendary Television & Digital Media because it believes that it is now possible to express the Myst world in a visual linear medium, said Blake Lewin, the vice president of business development at Cyan.

Legendary also has a record of building amazing entertainment that reaches a larger audience, and it is possible to link the TV show to new kinds of transmedia.

“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,” Lewin said. “With 70 percent of tablet owners using their device while watching TV, Cyan sees the potential to push the boundaries of interactive storytelling to a new level.”

Myst, co-created by brothers Rand Miller and Robyn Miller, debuted in 1993 on the Mac OS as one of the first games on the CD-ROM disc format. Cyan is currently building an entirely new place to explore with a title dubbed Obduction.