A Minecraft Moviehas faced a wave of backlash and questions from fans. Why is it live-action? Why is Jason Momoa wearing a silly wig? Just… why? While the last two questions remain a mystery, directorJared Hesshas given fans an answer to the former mystery. Based on the immensely popular video game of the same name,Minecraftsees four unlikely heroes being transported from reality into the game’s world. While fans were skeptical when the movie was announced, the endless64 stacks of fan-made videos, short films, and music video parodies on YouTube gave them hope that a multi-million dollar movie could be good.
But, according to Jared Hess,the popularity of fan-made animated content is the entire reason why theMinecraftmovie was made in live-action, and, inadvertently, a large reason why fans dislike the first trailer. During theMinecraft Live 2024stream, Hess discussed the upcoming movie, and revealed why he decided for a live-action approach.“Creators have made such amazing stories, and short films, and content in the animation space,“Hess began. The director wanted to differentiate the movie from the fan-made content, and live-action was the obvious way to make the film feel unique. He continued:
“And it was like, this is the chance for us, doing a film, to do something different.”
Four misfits – Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison (Jason Momoa), Henry (Sebastian Hansen), Natalie (Emma Myers) and Dawn (Danielle 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 (Jack 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.
As for theMinecraftmovie’s Isekai style-plot (where real people get sucked into an imaginary world), that came from a place of childhood wish fulfillment. Torfi Frans Olafsson, the Creative Director of Entertainment at Mojang (the developers ofMinecraft), revealed that the plot came from a childhood dream shared by many of the game’s developers and players around the world. He said:
“And, also kind of wish fulfillment, because I’ve always wondered, like, what would happen if I would wake up inside the Minecraft world? How would I survive, and would I survive at all?”
The New Minecraft Movie Clip Reveals How Crafting Works
As well as the interview with Jared Hess, this year’s Minecraft Live event featured a brand-new clip from the movie. In the scene,Steve (Jack Black) explains how crafting works in the world ofMinecraft.The movie’s version of crafting is very similar to the one found in the game. Steve aligns a stick and two blocks of iron together, hits them with a hammer, and magically creates a sword.
Jason Momoa Accused of Abusive Behavior on Minecraft Set
According to a popular YouTuber who has a cameo in the movie, Momoa is her “worst celebrity experience” ever.
It’s a shame thatfans have turned against theMinecraftmoviefollowing its first trailer — although it is understandable. While the concept of real peoplebeing transported into theMinecraftworldlooks jarring on-screen, the actual production design and aesthetic of the animated world is what many fans have dreamed of seeing in a blockbuster movie.Jared Hess worked withThe Lord of the Rings' production designer, Grant Major, to bring the world ofMinecraftto life on screen.Sadly, a lot of the hard work has been undermined by several questionable creative choices from a conceptual standpoint. But, fans will have to wait and see whether theMinecraftmovie is a success, or if the video game curse strikes again.
A Minecraft Moviesreleases in theaters on June 17, 2025.
