Jack Black Joins Live-Action Minecraft Movie, Reportedly As Steve

The anticipated live-action adaptation of Minecraft is making headlines with the recent addition of Jack Black to its cast. Speculation emerged on January 2 about Black's involvement, initially reported by Deadline, hinting at the possibility of him taking on the role of Steve, a well-known character from the game dressed in a teal shirt and blue pants. The actor's previous performance as the antagonist Bowser in The Super Mario Bros. Movie left a memorable impression, including a catchy number titled "Peaches."

Subsequent coverage from sources such as Variety has corroborated Black's casting in the Minecraft feature, joining the likes of Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, and Emma Myers, who have already been announced. Black himself teasingly alluded to the casting news with a social media post where he appeared engrossed in a book about the basics of Minecraft. Yet, there has been no official confirmation from Black or companies associated with the production—Warner Bros. and Legendary—regarding his portrayal of Steve.

The film, to be directed by Napoleon Dynamite's Jared Hess (who previously directed Black in the film Nacho Libre), is prepping for a shooting schedule in New Zealand, with aims to release in theaters on April 4, 2025. Despite being shrouded in secrecy regarding its plot, the project is moving forward after numerous attempts since 2016. At one point, Rob McElhenney of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia fame was appointed to helm an adaptation targeting Jurassic World fans. However, McElhenney eventually left the project, and its progress stalled substantially due to the global pandemic.

With a new director, Hess is leading the Warner Bros. and Legendary collaboration forward. Fans of Jack Black can look forward to his voice performance as Claptrap in another video game adaptation, the upcoming live-action Borderlands movie. Further details on the storyline for the Minecraft adaptation have yet to be released, leaving fans anticipating what's to come in this cinematic take on the popular video game.