Justice League and Aquaman star Jason Momoa is set to star in a Warner Bros. Live action Minecraft movie.
According to THR, the film will be directed by Napoleon Dynamite’s Jared Hess and is of course based on the popular Minecraft video game.
Developed by Mojang Studios, Minecraft was launched in 2011 and didn’t take long to become one of the globe’s most popular video games as it allows players to use virtual blocks to create not only structures, but build entire worlds that they, and online friends can explore.
The game went on to become a global sensation and amassed over 100 million players a few years after its launch. Microsoft subsequently acquired Mojang Studios for $2.5 billion in 2014.
Mining for movie gold
Warner Bros. Has long been developing a Minecraft project, with Stranger Things producer Shawn Levy and writer/co-creator/star of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Rob McElhenney having previously been lined up to helm the film.
The transmedia space between gaming and movies continues to grow exponentially as more behemoth studios are launching new hit franchises. 20th Century’s Free Guy starring Ryan Reynolds was a hit and Paramount ‘s Sonic the Hedgehog 2 continues to blossom at the box office too.
Discover more upcoming movie/game crossovers here.
Momoa certainly has busy shooting schedule in the coming months with sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom set for March 2023, and Fast and Furious 10 and the Apple TV+ acclaimed series See, where he stars as the infamous Baba Voss, both set to commence shooting soon.
And – of course – rumours that he’d be perfect for the upcoming God of War game spin-off continue to swirl…
Mary Parent who produced Dune and Roy Lee will produce the Minecraft film alongside Jill Messick who will be getting a posthumous producing credit for developing the film before her death in 2018.
Executive producers include Jon Berg, Cale Boyter and Jon Spaihts with Sweden’s Mojang Studios Lydia Winters and Vu Bui also producing.
Isa Muhammad is a writer and video game journalist covering many aspects of entertainment media including the film industry. He's steadily writing his way to the sharp end of journalism and enjoys staying informed. If he's not reading, playing video games or catching up on his favourite TV series, then he's probably writing about them.