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Warner Bros has released the first trailer for the upcoming A Minecraft Movie, one of the latest transmedia projects bringing video games to other entertainment mediums.
The live-action film stars Jack Black as Steve, one of the main player characters in the game, as well as Aquaman actor Jason Momoa, Emma Myers (Wednesday), Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple), Sebastian Eugene Hansen (Just Mercy, Lisey’s Story), and Jennifer Coolidge. It’s been directed by Nacho Libre director and Oscar nominee Jared Hess.
Magical quest
The movie’s premise centres on the lead characters “struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld”.
“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),” reads a description of the film’s plot.
“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.”
A Minecraft Movie is set to release in theatres in North America on April 4th, 2025 and internationally on April 2nd.
You can watch the full trailer below.
Making Minecraft
News of a Minecraft movie in the works was first announced in February 2014, with the project in development under different writers for a decade.
The Minecraft game first saw its full release in November 2011, and has since become an international hit. To date, Minecraft has sold more than 300 million copies worldwide.
Such was the title’s popularity, Microsoft acquired its Swedish developer Mojang Studios for $2.5 billion in 2014. Minecraft is available across platforms, with the mobile version of the title generating $1.4 billion in gross revenue alone on the App Store and Google Play since January 2015, according to AppMagic estimates.
Transmedia trend
A Minecraft Movie is the latest game to be turned into a major TV show or film. This year saw the critically panned release of the Borderlands movie, starring Cate Blanchett, Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Hart.
Other more successful transmedia projects in recent years include The Super Mario Bros. Movie, The Last of Us TV show, and the Detective Pikachu film. Both movies have been confirmed for a sequel, while The Last of Us will also get a second season.
Announced in June 2024, Rovio and Sega revealed The Angry Birds Movie 3 was in production, though no release date was provided.
