Troubled production cycles for movies based on popular video game franchises is seemingly ongoing. Minecraft: The Movie is now the latest one with problems, following Warner Bros. acquisition of Detective Pikachu.
The film originally revealed by the game's creator Notch in 2014, when he posted about Mojang's partnership with Warner Bros., is no longer scheduled to arrive in cinemas May 2019. The latest reports are the director and co-writer, Rob McElhenny, has walked away from the project.
Aaron and Adam Nee have now been brought in to direct the film and will also rewrite the script. This is purportedly the third director swap since the project's beginning. The original one left over "creative differences" with Warner Bros.
Did you know a Minecraft movie was in production? Would you be interested in watching if it ever gets released? Are you a fan of video game movie adaptations? Tell us below.
[source polygon.com]
Comments 34
There's a Tetris movie too.
All these blocky movies are going to be blockbusters.
Now maybe they can cancel it and we can have one less crap movie earning astronimical amounts of money.
@Nincompoop Add the Lego movies and you've got your next Cinematic Universe.
Okay, Minecraft movie will be soo.... Blocky / Cubism.
its always sunny in the nether
...A Creeper probably blew up the script and the director did rage quit.
It feels like many years ago Hollywood sat down with video game titles, made a list of the ones with the strongest plots and/or lore and set in on fire in order to pursue the likes of Tetris and Rampage instead.
This should be taken as a sign. Listen to the universe, Hollywood types.
Is that the same Rob McElhenny from It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia? He's a great writer and director. He might have made something good from this.
For the most part these sort of movies rely on the games fan base going to the cinema. It will have a silly story and will rely on special effects. It will make some money if released holiday time.
Wreck it Ralph did OK enough for a follow up Movie so I guess a good script helps.
Huh?
Oh boy!
As much as I enjoy Minecraft. I will be staying far far away from this movie.
The problem with half these film tie ins is they get green lit while the games at its peak and by the time the movie hits the films lost a lot of its relevance. Not to say Minecraft is small or irrelevant now days, but culturally speaking I think it was more dominants a couple of years back in broader pop culture.
Angry Birds is probably another good example. Rovio were struggling by the time that film arrived. Had it hit cinemas two years earlier I'm sure people would have been more interested.
@Smigit Surprisingly, The Angry Birds Movie made a lot of money for Sony. (It's even getting a sequel! Ugh...) If I'm being completely honest, I don't think this Minecraft movie needs to exist. Also, the best video game movie in my opinion was Warcraft, and that was just decent. There have been a few that I have enjoyed like the 2018 Tomb Raider movie, Rampage, and some of the Uwe Boll movies (for how hilariously bad they are) but most of the time, video game movies turn out bland or just plain bad. I think that simply comes down to the fact that they are typically made just to cash in on a popular IP rather than present a compelling story.
Build the future, protect the present. Remember the past.
"The world is thrown for a loop when gigantic, blocky monsters from another dimension suddenly invade our reality.
Meanwhile, a girl from the suburbs (Mila Jovovich) discovers the true secret to her lineage. Wielding a pickaxe, she is the only hope of humankind. She must answer the call of her ancestors, those blessed with the powers of... the Minecrafters."
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson
@SomeWriter13 You’re onto something, there!
@MagicEmperor if only the money from that kind of manuscript is enough to retire on... XD
Honestly I'm not sure I this is a good or bad thing 😂
@Nincompoop I wish I could rent them from Blockbuster. I mean, I guess I can if I travel to Oregon.
WB: Weird Blocky Movies
@SomeWriter13 Haha! Yep, if only.
There's going to be a movie, what?
@Smigit well my two little ones love that bloody movie and excited for the second one
@20wonders I hear the Ace Attorney movie is p good dude
I kinda like these gaming movies. My favourite was Wreck It Ralph but looking forward to Mario as well.
@Braok Wait, there's an Ace Attorney movie?!
@20wonders Yeah, afaik it never got released outside Japan though, and as I haven't watched it IDK if the fan subs are any good.
After seeing the trailer for story mode I think I imagine my minecraft adventures way differently
This sounds like little more than a lazy cash grab. But Minecraft Story mode was a decent time waster, so this will hopefully be about as good as that was.
If directors keep leaving, chances are they're genuinely trying to make a good movie, but the studio wants to fill it with hollywood BS.
@Smigit this is why David Fincher only agreed to do the Facebook movie if they could do it right away.
@Anguspuss personally I thought the movie was a more than fine kids film. I just think if the timing was right they could have doubled their revenue but the film came out well after Angry birds mania had died down.
Uh-oh.
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