Minecraft Movie Digs up a Release Date & Plot

I’m going to throw a lot of phrases at you that I don’t understand because I don’t play Minecraft. If you or anyone you know is a Minecraft fanatic will you please send them to the comments section so they can clear this all up? 

So, the live-action adaptation of the uber-popular video game has finally been given a release date by Warner Bros. March 4, 2022 will be the day that you can visit your local cineplex and watch blocky people do blocky things. That’s fairly far off, especially since the movie has been delayed multiple times and has had multiple directors attached. Peter Sollett (Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist) is currently signed onto helm the feature. 

But we didn’t just get a release date for the anticipated film. Warner Bros also revealed plot details. And here’s where things get confusing to me. WB says the movie will be about a teenage girl and her friends “as they set out to save their blocky Overworld from the malevolent and destructive Ender Dragon.” Okay, first of all what is the Overworld? Is that the name of the Minecraft realm? And what on earth is an Ender Dragon? I didn’t know Minecraft had such mythology! I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that a game all about exploring infinite worlds is creating such a deep universe. 

Perhaps the biggest question is this: what will a live-action Minecraft movie be like? I can picture an animated film but one with real actors? That just sounds like a bizarre approach for this property. Obviously some animation must be involved because you can’t create the blocky environment of the game in the real world. Or can you? Just what does WB, Microsoft and Sollett have in mind?

Don’t sleep on the Minecraft movie. This thing has the potential to be H-U-G-E. The game, which has no official sequels or DLC, is still one of the most popular games of all time. Not of the month, not of the year — all damn time. So you can bet that there are millions of people of all ages who will line up to see their favorite game translated to the big screen. Plus don’t expect the movie to be crappy either. If The LEGO Movie taught us anything it’s that an unorthodox movie can turn out great in the right hands. And you better believe WB is looking at The LEGO Movie as a major influence. I can dig that.