Some news to kick off the year right as Jack Black will be trading in his King Koopa title and piano for something square after a monster-size performance as Bowser from last spring's The Super Mario Bros. Movie from Illumination. Specifically for another calling for the actor's love of video games as he's been tapped to play "Steve" in the Minecraft movie adaptation from Warner Bros. Pictures with Aquaman star Jason Momoa.
Deadline revealed details yesterday for Black as he made a deal to join the film, with the actor attached in the role of "Steve". Around after his casting was announced, Black took to social media to confirm his involvement in a pretty hilarious Instagram post of him reading Minecraft Basics for Dummies.
Also starring in the upcoming adaptation are Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, and Sebastian Eugene Hansen. No screenwriter has been currently announced, but the project is being directed by Jared Hess, reuniting with Black since the days of his wrestling comedy, Nacho Libre in 2006.
While Warner Bros. will be serving as distributor, the film is co-produced by Vertigo, Momoa’s On the Roam, co-financier Legendary Pictures, and original developer, Mojang with parent company Microsoft. Producers included in production are Roy Lee Jon Berg, Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Torfi Frans Olafsson, Vu Bui, and the late Jill Messick. Todd Hallowell, Kayleen Walters, Brian Mendoza, and Jonathan Spaihts serve as executive producers.
Created by Swedish video game developer Mojang Studios, the iconic sandbox title is the bestselling video game of all time, with 300 million copies sold and nearly 140 million monthly active players.
Black will also star in another video game-related movie out this year, being the voice of Claptrap in Eli Roth's Borderlands film from Lionsgate, set to be released on August 9th. In the meantime, the King of Jables is scheduled to return as the voice of Po in Dreamworks' Kung Fu Panda 4 out this March. Followed by the third leg of The Spicy Meatball Tour of Tenacious-D, with bandmate Kyle Gass heading back to Europe this April.
After a decade of development and delays, the Minecraft movie from Warner Bros. is scheduled to be released on April 5th, 2025. Three months before the studio's tentpole release of Superman: Legacy from James Gunn. Share your thoughts below in the comments about this casting.