After a decade of development and filming, the firstA Minecraft Movietrailer has finally arrived. Plans for an adaptation of the iconic Mojang Studios video game first began in 2014, with futureDeadpool & Wolverinefilmmaker Shawn Levy attached to direct before departing and being replaced byIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Rob McElhenney, who also departed due to scheduling conflicts, andMetal Lords' Peter Sollett. The directing position would ultimately land withNapoleon Dynamite’s Jared Hess, who forged ahead with a rewritten script by Chris Bowman and Hubbel Palmer, with Jason Momoa being the first to jointheMinecraftcast.
As the video game adaptation genre continues to boom,Warner Bros.has unveiled the firstA Minecraft Movietrailer.
The video, as seen above, sees a group of humans confused as they enter the world of the titular video game, discovering everything from the animals who roam it to the various threats that populate it.The trailer ends with Jack Black revealing himself as Steveand showcasing a unique grasp on some of the abilities that come from being in the game.
What The Minecraft Movie Trailer Reveals About The Video Game Adaptation
Hess & Co. Are Striving For A Live-Action/CGI Adventure
Though it had been previously reported as a live-action movie,A Minecraft Movie’s traileroffers a proper look at how Hess is looking to adapt the video game, introducing live-action characters into the blocky world of the source material. Based on the trailer, the designs look to generally stay true to the game, namely the Piglins and the Creepers, though the sheep and llamas look to be altered slightly, likely to appeal to a younger demographic, considering the game is still popular with kids.
Rather than act as a direct adaptation in the vein of Borderlands or The Last of Us, the movie looks to be pulling from the Jumanji playbook
One of the bigger reveals of theMinecraft Movietrailer is an introduction to the cast of characters, who had largely been kept under wraps. Black had revealed in April 2024 that he would be playing Steve, the protagonist of the game, though looks at the rest of the cast were unknown. The trailer now confirms thatJason Momoa,Peacemaker’s Danielle Brooks,Wednesday’s Emma Myers and Sebastian Eugene Hansen are all new human characters, while Jennifer Coolidge, Kate McKinnon and Jemaine Clement’s roles are still a mystery.
I Love You Jack Black - Good Luck With Your Minecraft Movie Role
Jack Black’s Minecraft role has seemingly been revealed, and it is the perfect contrast to his performance in his $1.36 billion video game adaptation.
The other major update theMinecraft Movietrailer brings is some insight into the film’s actual story. Rather than act as a direct adaptation in the vein ofBorderlandsorThe Last of Us,the movie looks to be pulling fromtheJumanjiplaybookby following people pulled from the real world into a game and setting off on an adventure to escape and learn more about themselves. Check out the full plot description from WB below:
Welcome to the world of Minecraft, where creativity doesn’t just help you craft, it’s essential to one’s survival! Four misfits—Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison (Momoa), Henry (Hansen), Natalie (Myers) and Dawn (Brooks)—find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they’ll have to master this world (and protect it from evil things like Piglins and Zombies, too) while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected, expert crafter, Steve (Black). Together, their adventure will challenge all five to be bold and to reconnect with the qualities that make each of them uniquely creative…the very skills they need to thrive back in the real world.
Will The Minecraft Movie Restore Jack Black’s Video Game Streak?
Beyond just finally bringing the movie to theaters after years of stalls,A Minecraft Movie’s upcoming release also marksa continuation of Jack Black’s trend of starring in video game-centric movies. ThoughJumanjiwas technically based on a book rather than a game, his installments did shift mediums for the titular game, while he also recently starred in bothThe Super Mario Bros. MovieandBorderlands, which both saw vastly different critical and commercial receptions. See how Black’s video game movies have fared on Rotten Tomatoes and the box office in the chart below:
76%
87%
72%
59%
95%
10%
53%
$31.2 Million
GivenBorderlandshas proven to be a disappointmentto critics and audiences alike,A Minecraft Moviecould be the key to restoring his video game movie success streak. In looking at the early reactions to the trailer, though, fans of the game have been quite critical of the first look at the film, lamenting the decision for a live-action approach in lieu of the various animated shorts that have been made and released on YouTube in the 13 years since the game debuted. There have been some, however, who have expressed an interest in seeing the movie regardless, with others even feeling it looks like an entertaining adventure.
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Despite The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s $1.3 billion box office, the movie still faced complaints that it must fix for a potential sequel.
Giventhere was a fair amount of backlash toThe Super Mario Bros. Moviebefore it went on to become a $1.362 billion record-breaking success, it does seem possible thatA Minecraft Moviecould still overcome these skepticisms to become a hit. In its current August 15, 2025 release date, it’s facing little competition at the box office, only going up against Disney’sSnow Whiteremake two weeks prior, and Ben Affleck’sThe Accountant 2three weeks after. Even if it proves to be a disappointment, though,aSuper Mario Bros. Moviesequel is set for 2026, making it possible his video game success streak will bounce back.
A Minecraft Movie
Cast
A Minecraft Movie follows four misfits transported into the Overworld, a cubic world of creativity. To return home, they must navigate its challenges while on a magical quest with experienced crafter Steve, learning to master the intricate environment of this imaginative realm.
