The upcoming live-action adaptation of the widely popular video game, “Minecraft,” welcomes Jack Black to its star-studded cast, confirming his involvement alongside previously announced lead Jason Momoa.
In addition to Momoa, the film features Emma Myers from “Wednesday” and Danielle Brooks, known for her role in “The Color Purple.” The commencement of production is imminent, set to take place in New Zealand.
Steering the directorial helm is Jared Hess, recognized for his work on “Napoleon Dynamite” and his prior collaboration with Black in the 2006 comedy “Nacho Libre.” Warner Bros. and Legendary are co-backing the project, positioning the release of “Minecraft” in theaters on April 4, 2025.
Details regarding the storyline or screenwriter behind the “Minecraft” movie remain undisclosed. The development of a cinematic adaptation for the game has been ongoing for years, with Shawn Levy, Rob McElhenney, and Peter Sollett all previously linked to potential directorial roles.
Since its debut in 2011, “Minecraft” has cemented its place among the best-selling video games in history, boasting a massive user base of over 140 million monthly players. Known for its sandbox-style gameplay allowing users to craft 3D worlds using colorful blocks, the game has expanded into various spinoffs such as “Minecraft: Story Mode,” “Minecraft Earth,” “Minecraft Dungeons,” and “Minecraft Legends.” Mojang Studios, the Swedish game developer, was acquired by Microsoft in 2014 and is set to play a production role in the film adaptation.
Jack Black has notably become a favored actor for Hollywood adaptations of gaming narratives, having appeared in “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” “Jumanji: The Next Level,” and the upcoming “Borderlands” from Lionsgate. His upcoming ventures include reprising his voice role as Po in Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s comedy “Kung Fu Panda 4,” slated to hit screens on March 8.
