With over 300 million copies sold, the open-world game Minecraft is still the most successful video game of all time. Next year, the movie will finally be released, featuring an impressive cast. So in this article, we'll bring you up to date on all things Minecraft!

In fact, the live-action adaptation of Minecraft has been in development for quite some time - 10 years, to be precise. However, the production has repeatedly encountered difficulties, which is why fans of the game have had to wait for quite a while. In the meantime, however, production is finally moving forward, the release date has been set and more and more details are becoming available.

What is the Minecraft Movie about?

Originally, there were several ideas for the plot of the "Minecraft" film. For example, one idea centered on how a group of people act in a creative manner in a digital world - similar to the original game. Currently, though, the story is more likely to focus on a young girl and a group of unique adventurers who have to protect their beautiful overworld from the menacing Ender Dragon. This dragon wreaks havoc in its wake.

Similar to "The Super Mario Bros. Movie", we can look forward to many locations from the game, including various biomes and a hell-like underworld. The Ender Dragon itself is usually located in a surreal place called "The End". We are excited to discover how the iconic world of "Minecraft" will be portrayed in the live-action adaptation.

An alleged leak in July 2024 also revealed details about the story: Accordingly, Steve is kidnapped by a dark entity called Malgosha. A group of four new visitors must now enter the Minecraft world to rescue him. Whether this information is credible is all but certain.

Although no further details about the plot are known at present, it can be assumed that the fun and creativity of the game will be at the heart of the film adaptation as well. After all, the world of "Minecraft" offers countless opportunities to tell a captivating and creative story. We are particularly excited about the portrayal of the unique creatures, especially the legendary Creeper and the Enderman.

The Cast

The "Minecraft" film has managed to win over some prominent actors: In April 2022, it was announced that Jason Momoa would take on a leading role in the movie adaptation. The role of Steve, in turn, will be played by Jack Black, who announced his involvement in the movie via Instagram. Black is considered one of the most sought-after actors in video game adaptations - for example, he provided the voice of the villain Bowser in the "Super Mario" movie.

Last year, there were rumors that "The Last of Us" star Pedro Pascal would take on the role of Steve. The news was reported and shared by various trade magazines. In the end, however, it turned out that the rumor was spread by YouTuber GeorgeMasonTV. He wanted to show how easily it is to propagate fake news. In fact, Pedro Pascal was never asked to star in the "Minecraft" film.

Instead, Jack Black is joined by the following actors: "Barbie" actress Kate McKinnon, "Wednesday" star Emma Myers, as well as Jemaine Clement, known from "What We Do in the Shadows" for example. The cast also includes Danielle Brooks as Dawn, Sebastian Eugene Hansen as Henry and "The White Lotus" star Jennifer Coolidge.

Leak Shows First Image of Minecraft Movie

An alleged concept image for the "Minecraft" film also came to light as part of the story leak in July. The creators did not comment on whether the image was genuine, but their behavior suggests that it was: Anyone who shared the image online was forced to take it down quickly. So we can only describe what was there: on the one hand, there was Jack Black in his role as Steve, wearing a blue shirt and jeans and holding the iconic pickaxe in a pixelated look. Next to him was a moss-covered Creeper, a cuboid bee and a pink sheep - all in typical blocks, but with a high-resolution texture. Together with other leaked images of some of the set items, at least one thing seems certain: the game's blocky look is being adhered to.

A Chaotic Production

The production of "Minecraft" has already been through a chaotic time: in 2014, it was announced that "Deadpool & Wolverine" director Shawn Levy was to adapt a script by Kieran and Michele Mulroney, who were already in charge of "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows". However, due to creative differences with Mojang, the game's creators, the project was put on ice for a while.

Nearly two years later, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" star Rob McElhenney was supposed to take over the movie and write a script together with Jason Fuchs - focusing heavily on the open-world aspect of the game. But these plans also came to nothing: shortly before the project could be realized, the studio management changed.

Following McElhenney, who left the production in 2018, came director Peter Sollett - but he couldn't stay for long either. In the end, the choice fell on Jared Hess, who had already impressed with the comedy "Napoleon Dynamite" and worked with Jack Black on "Nacho Libre". The final script was written by Chris Bowman and Hubbel Palmer - known for the comedy "Masterminds". Originally, filming for "Minecraft" was due to start in August 2023. However, due to the actors' and writers' strike, there were delays. The first take was then shot in December 2023.

When will the Movie be Released?

Distributor Warner Bros. is currently planning to release the "Minecraft" movie in cinemas on April 4, 2025. A first trailer can therefore be expected towards the end of this year. But who knows: a first "Minecraft" teaser trailer could also be released a bit earlier. Perhaps then we can finally get an official idea of how the game graphics have been adapted for the film.