Jack Black has joined the cast of “Minecraft,” a live-action adaptation of the popular video game.
As previously announced, Jason Momoa is starring in the movie alongside “Wednesday’s” Emma Myers and “The Color Purple” actor Danielle Brooks. Production is expected to begin imminently in New Zealand.
“Napoleon Dynamite” filmmaker Jared Hess, who previously worked with Black on the 2006 comedy “Nacho Libre,” is directing the project. Warner Bros. and Legendary are backing “Minecraft,” which is slated to open in theaters on April 4, 2025.
It’s unclear what the “Minecraft” movie will be about, or who is writing the screenplay. A film version of the game has been in the works for years, with Shawn Levy, Rob McElhenney and Peter Sollett all at one point in talks to direct.
Related Stories
VIP+How Celebrity Reps Are Fighting the Flood of Unauthorized AI Content
Why Critically Panned 'Joker 2' Could Still Be in the Awards Race for Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix
“Minecraft,” which debuted in 2011, is one of the best-selling video games in history and boasts more than 140 million monthly users. The sandbox-style game allows players to use colorful blocks to create 3D worlds. It has also spawned numerous spinoffs, like “Minecraft: Story Mode,” “Minecraft Earth,” “Minecraft Dungeons” and “Minecraft Legends.” Mojang Studios, the Swedish developer behind the game, was acquired by Microsoft in 2014 and will serve as a producer on the movie adaptation.
Popular on Variety
Black has seemingly become Hollywood’s choice actor for game-to-screen stories, having starred in “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” “Jumanji: The Next Level” and Lionsgate’s upcoming “Borderlands.” Up next, he’s reprising his voice role as Po in Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s comedy “Kung Fu Panda 4,” which lands on the big screen on March 8.
Deadline first reported the news of Black’s casting.
Read More About:
Jump to CommentsMore from Variety
WWE’s NXT Viewership Jumps 44% in CW Debut
Virtual Production Growth in Focus at IBC Event
Sophie Turner on Playing a Glamorous Diamond Thief Fighting for Custody of Her Child in British Crime Drama ‘Joan’: ‘I Had That Maternal Ferocity in Me’
Cloud Adoption Key to Media Business Exploiting AI
Most Popular
Inside the 'Joker: Folie à Deux' Debacle: Todd Phillips ‘Wanted Nothing to Do’ With DC on the $200 Million Misfire
‘Kaos’ Canceled After One Season at Netflix
‘Menendez Brothers’ Netflix Doc Reveals Erik’s Drawings of His Abuse and Lyle Saying ‘I Would Much Rather Lose the Murder Trial Than Talk About Our…
Saoirse Ronan Says Losing Luna Lovegood Role in ‘Harry Potter’ Has ‘Stayed With Me Over the Years’: ‘I Was Too Young’ and ‘Knew I Wasn't Going to Get…
‘Joker 2’ Axed Scene of Lady Gaga’s Lee Kissing a Woman at the Courthouse Because ‘It Had Dialogue in It’ and ‘Got in the Way’ of a Music…
Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried to Star in ‘The Housemaid’ Adaptation From Director Paul Feig, Lionsgate
Kathy Bates Won an Oscar and Her Mom Told Her: ‘You Didn't Discover the Cure for Cancer,’ So ‘I Don't Know What All the Excitement Is About…
Kamala Harris Cracks Open a Miller High Life With Stephen Colbert on ‘The Late Show’
Christopher Nolan’s Next Movie: Matt Damon in Talks to Star in Universal Film Set for Summer 2026
‘Skyfall’ Director Sam Mendes Says James Bond Studio Prefers Filmmakers ‘Who Are More Controllable’: ‘I Would Doubt’ I’d…
Must Read
- Film
COVER | Sebastian Stan Tells All: Becoming Donald Trump and Starring in 2024’s Most Controversial Movie
By Andrew Wallenstein 3 weeks
- TV
Menendez Family Slams Netflix’s ‘Monsters’ as ‘Grotesque’ and ‘Riddled With Mistruths’: ‘The Character Assassination of Erik and Lyke Is Repulsive…
- TV
‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 Part 2 to Air on CBS After Paramount Network Debut
- TV
50 Cent Sets Diddy Abuse Allegations Docuseries at Netflix: ‘It’s a Complex Narrative Spanning Decades’ (EXCLUSIVE)
- Shopping
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Sets Digital and Blu-ray/DVD Release Dates
Sign Up for Variety Newsletters
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Variety Confidential
ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXOAjp%2BgpaVfo7K4v46jmJyjXZe5oq%2FKZqSippWYv6Ky02akqK6ZmnqisMCpq5qsmaS7bn2RbGxxbWlrgnp7