‘Myst,’ ‘Riven’ video games will be basis for TV series

A Burbank, California, company will produce a 10-episode season based on the popular “Myst” and “Riven” video games developed by Spokane game company Cyan Worlds Inc.

The not-yet-scheduled series will showcase on the Hulu platform, the company said.

Legendary TV & Digital Media plans to release specifics about the project later this year, a company spokesman said.

Cyan began discussions with Legendary TV more than a year ago. While Cyan had entertained some earlier overtures for a film version of the “Myst” saga, the deal with Legendary TV evolved because of the company’s track record of making quality movies and TV productions, Cyan CEO Rand Miller said.

Legendary shopped a treatment of the “Myst” story written by Evan Daugherty to a number of cable and digital content companies.

“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, was the best-selling video game for nearly a decade; “The Sims” surpassed it in 2002.

In the original “Myst” game and later versions, 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 said Legendary TV’s team has started exploring a number of narrative approaches to create an “amazing” storyline.

Legendary has produced several notable video versions of popular comic book superhero stories and video games, including “World of Warcraft,” “Watchmen” and “Man of Steel.”

Miller said his company will retain 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 well be a cameo actor in the series, he said. He has appeared in some of the later game versions of “Myst” as Atrus, a key figure in the Myst universe.

Cyan is completing its next video game, called “Obduction,” which the company hopes to release later this year.

Legendary TV officials have said the company also plans to include a companion video game that can be played along with the “Myst” show.

“Seventy percent of tablet owners use their device watching TV at least several times a week,” a Cyan news release said. “Cyan sees the potential to push the boundaries of interactive storytelling to a new level.”