Editing Minecraft (franchise) (section)

== Film ==
{{redirect|Minecraft (film)|the 2012 documentary film|Minecraft: The Story of Mojang{{!}}''Minecraft: The Story of Mojang''}}

In 2012, Mojang received offers from Hollywood producers who wanted to produce ''Minecraft''-related TV shows; however, Mojang stated they would only engage in such projects when "the right idea comes along".<ref name="Merchandise sales" />  

Two years later, in February 2014, an attempt to [[crowdfund]] a [[fan film]] through [[Kickstarter]] was shut down after [[Markus Persson|Markus 'Notch' Persson]] declined to let the filmmakers use the license, the given reason being that the Kickstarter was set up before any agreement with Mojang had been made.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Macy |first1=Seth G |date=7 February 2014 |title=MINECRAFT MOVIE 'THE BIRTH OF MAN' NIXED BY NOTCH |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/07/minecraft-movie-the-birth-of-man-nixed-by-notch |access-date=17 September 2017 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Makuch |first1=Eddie |date=10 February 2014 |title=Minecraft-inspired movie shut down |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-inspired-movie-shut-down/1100-6417633/ |access-date=17 September 2017 |website=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref> That same month, Persson revealed that Mojang was in talks with [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] to develop an official ''Minecraft'' film to be produced by [[Roy Lee]] and [[Jill Messick]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Nutt|first1=Christian|date=27 February 2014|title=Minecraft movie in the works with Warner Bros.|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/211920/Minecraft_movie_in_the_works_with_Warner_Bros.php|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228080450/http://gamasutra.com/view/news/211920/Minecraft_movie_in_the_works_with_Warner_Bros.php|archive-date=28 February 2014|access-date=28 February 2014|website=[[Gamasutra]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Busch|first=Anita|date=27 February 2014|title=Video Game Sensation 'Minecraft' Coming To The Big Screen As Warner Bros Acquires Rights; 'Lego's' Roy Lee And Jill Messick Producing|url=https://www.deadline.com/2014/02/minecraft-movie-warner-bros-lego-movie-producer/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228170036/http://www.deadline.com/2014/02/minecraft-movie-warner-bros-lego-movie-producer/|archive-date=28 February 2014|access-date=27 February 2014|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> In October 2014, Mojang COO Vu Bui stated that the movie was "in its early days of development", saying that it was a "large-budget" production, and also said that it might not be released until 2018.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Makuch|first1=Eddie|date=8 October 2014|title=Minecraft Movie Is "Large-Budget," Might Not Arrive Until 2018|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-movie-is-large-budget-might-not-arrive-u/1100-6422821/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010053324/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-movie-is-large-budget-might-not-arrive-u/1100-6422821/|archive-date=10 October 2014|access-date=8 October 2014|website=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Dredge|first1=Stuart|date=9 October 2014|title=Minecraft movie will be 'large-budget' but unlikely to arrive before 2017|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/oct/08/minecraft-movies-youtube-mojang-licensing|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008170022/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/oct/08/minecraft-movies-youtube-mojang-licensing|archive-date=8 October 2014|access-date=8 October 2014|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> That same month, Warner Bros. hired [[Shawn Levy]] to direct the film,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kroll|first1=Justin|date=16 October 2014|title=Warner Bros. Taps Shawn Levy for 'Minecraft' Movie|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/warner-bros-taps-shawn-levy-for-minecraft-movie-1201332000/|url-status=live|access-date=16 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017174929/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/warner-bros-taps-shawn-levy-for-minecraft-movie-1201332000/|archive-date=17 October 2014}}</ref> while in December, it was confirmed that Levy and writers [[Kieran Mulroney]] and Michele Mulroney, who were developing the film together had left the project.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kroll|first1=Justin|title=Shawn Levy Leaves Warner Bros.' 'Minecraft' Film|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/shawn-levy-leaves-warner-bros-minecraft-film-exclusive-1201374902/|accessdate=December 10, 2014|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=December 9, 2014}}</ref>

In July 2015, it was announced that Warner Bros. had hired [[Rob McElhenney]] to direct the film. According to McElhenney, he had been drawn to the film based on the open-world nature of the game, an idea Warner Bros. had initially agreed with and provided him with a preliminary US$150 million budget for.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bui|first1=Vu|title=We've chosen a director for the Minecraft movie!|url=https://mojang.com/2015/07/weve-chosen-a-director-for-the-minecraft-movie/|accessdate=July 22, 2015|work=[[Mojang]]|date=July 21, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=21 July 2015|title=Minecraft Movie Gets 'It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia's Rob McElhenney|url=https://deadline.com/2015/07/minecraft-movie-rob-mcelhenney-its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia-1201482930/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722190910/http://deadline.com/2015/07/minecraft-movie-rob-mcelhenney-its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia-1201482930/|archive-date=22 July 2015|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> In 2016, early production started on the film, including having had given a release date of 24 May 2019 in June,<ref>{{cite web|last=Galuppo|first=Mia|date=27 June 2016|title=Warner Bros.' 'Minecraft' Movie Gets Release Date|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/warner-bros-minecraft-movie-gets-906607|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628141028/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/warner-bros-minecraft-movie-gets-906607|archive-date=28 June 2016|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> [[Jason Fuchs]] set to write the script in October,<ref>{{cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=13 October 2016|title='Wonder Woman' Scribe Jason Fuchs to Write Latest Draft of 'Minecraft' (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/jason-fuchs-minecraft-movie-writer-1201888253/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017174723/http://variety.com/2016/film/news/jason-fuchs-minecraft-movie-writer-1201888253/|archive-date=17 October 2016|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> and [[Steve Carell]] contracted to star as the voice of an unknown character in November.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kroll|first1=Justin|title=Steve Carell in Talks to Join 'Minecraft' Movie at Warner Bros. (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/steve-carell-minecraft-movie-warner-bros-1201918908/|accessdate=November 16, 2016|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=November 15, 2016}}</ref> McElhenney's ''Minecraft'' film "slowly died on the vine", and due to scheduling conflicts, he left the film in August 2018,<ref>{{cite web |last=Gera |first=Emily |date=24 February 2020 |title=Always Sunny's Rob McElhenney explains what went wrong for his $150 Million Minecraft movie |url=https://www.vg247.com/2020/02/24/minecraft-rob-mcelhenney-movie/ |access-date=24 February 2020 |work=[[VG247]]}}</ref> [[Aaron and Adam Nee]] were tapped to rewrite the script and the film was delayed as a result. No new director was announced at that time.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gonzalez|first1=Umberto|last2=Maglio|first2=Tony|date=3 August 2018|title='Minecraft' Movie Delayed: Rob McElhenney Out as Director, Nee Brothers Tapped to Write (Exclusive)|url=https://www.thewrap.com/minecraft-nee-brothers-rob-mcelhenny-release-date/|access-date=4 August 2018|website=[[TheWrap]]}}</ref>

In January 2019, [[Peter Sollett]] was announced to write and direct the film, featuring an entirely different story from McElhenney's version. Messick, who died in 2018, will be posthumously credited as producer.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=11 January 2019|title=Peter Sollett to Direct Warner Bros.' 'Minecraft' Movie (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/peter-sollett-warner-bros-minecraft-1203105640/|access-date=13 January 2019|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> In April 2019, Warner Bros. scheduled the new film to be released in theaters on 4 March 2022.<ref>{{cite web|last=D'Anastasio|first=Cecilia|date=16 April 2019|title=On March 4, 2022, Warner Bros. and Mojang will be releasing a Minecraft movie.|url=https://kotaku.com/on-march-4-2022-warner-bros-and-mojang-will-be-relea-1834080290|access-date=16 April 2019|work=[[Kotaku]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-16|title=THE MINECRAFT MOVIE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER|url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/the-minecraft-movie-is-just-around-the-corner|access-date=2021-06-11|website=Minecraft.net|language=en-US|archive-date=16 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416151437/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/the-minecraft-movie-is-just-around-the-corner|url-status=dead}}</ref> In June 2019, [[Allison Schroeder]] was hired to write the script and co-write the film with Sollett.<ref>{{cite news|author=Borys Kit|title='Frozen 2' Co-Writer Allison Schroeder Tackling 'Minecraft' Movie (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/frozen-2-writer-allison-schroeder-tackling-minecraft-movie-1220710|date=June 24, 2019|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=July 28, 2019}}</ref> In October 2020, the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] prompted Warner Bros. to adjust its release schedule, including removing the ''Minecraft'' film from its planned release date.<ref>{{Cite web|date=5 October 2020|title='The Batman' Delays Release to 2022 as Warner Bros. Shuffles Calendar|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/the-batman-delays-release-to-2022-as-warner-bros-shuffles-calendar|access-date=2 April 2021|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|language=en}}</ref> Sollett instead directed ''[[Metal Lords]]'', which was released exclusively on [[Netflix]] in April 2022. That same month, production on the ''Minecraft'' film was announced to be moving forward without Sollett and Schroeder, now with [[Jared and Jerusha Hess|Jared Hess]] set to direct and [[Jason Momoa]] in early talks to star. The film was also confirmed to be [[live action]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Couch|first=Aaron|date=18 April 2022|title=Jason Momoa to Star in 'Minecraft' Movie for Warner Bros.|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/minecraft-movie-jason-momoa-1235131605/|access-date=18 April 2022|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|language=en}}</ref> Some sources also said that Chris Bowman and [[Hubbel Palmer]] would rewrite the script.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=April 18, 2022 |title=Jason Momoa In Early Talks To Star In 'Minecraft'; Jared Hess Directing Video Game Adaptation For Warner Bros |url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/jason-momoa-in-talks-to-star-in-warner-bros-adaptation-of-minecraft-1235005112/ |access-date=April 24, 2022 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/04/19/hbo-max-backs-minecraft-movie-with-aquaman-star-jason-momoa/ |title=HBO Max backs 'Minecraft' movie with 'Aquaman' star Jason Momoa |last=Forristal |first=Lauren |publisher=TechCrunch |date=April 19, 2022 |accessdate=June 7, 2022}}</ref> In early April 2023, it was reported that the film would release on 4 April 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |date=2023-04-05 |title='Aquaman 2' Shifts Release Date Five Days Earlier, Warner Bros Dates 'The Wise Guys', 'Minecraft' |url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/aquaman-2-minecraft-wise-guys-color-purple-release-dates-1235318958/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Deadline}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-05 |title=Jason Momoa's 'Minecraft' Books April 2025 Release Date in Theaters |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/minecraft-april-2025-release-theaters-1235368050/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> In May, [[Matt Berry]] entered negotiations to join the cast.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grobar |first1=Matt |title=Matt Berry In Talks To Join Jason Momoa In Warner Bros' ''Minecraft'' |url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/minecraft-matt-berry-jason-momoa-warner-bros-1235370880/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=27 May 2023 |date=May 23, 2023}}</ref> On 19 June 2023, it was reported that [[principal photography]] on the film would start on 7 August in [[New Zealand]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-20 |title=Live-Action Minecraft Movie to Start Filming in August |url=https://movieweb.com/live-action-minecraft-film-to-start-filming-in-august/ |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=MovieWeb |language=en}}</ref> before filming was delayed in July due to the [[2023 SAG-AFTRA strike]].<ref name="variety prods affected">{{Cite web |last=Earl |first=William |date=July 14, 2023 |title=All the TV Shows and Movies Affected by the Actors Strike (Updating) |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/tv-shows-movies-affected-sag-actors-strike-2023-1235668990/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714195948/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/tv-shows-movies-affected-sag-actors-strike-2023-1235668990/ |archive-date=July 14, 2023 |access-date=July 14, 2023 |website=[[Variety (website)|Variety]]}}</ref>