MOVIE NEWS – Jason Momoa has landed a role in the live-action Minecraft movie by Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess.

Like it or not, it looks like the upcoming Minecraft movie starring Jason Momoa is moving forward. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Aquaman and Game of Thrones star has been cast in the live-action film adaptation of the popular blockbuster video game. Also on board is Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite), who is set to star in the new film from Warner Bros. Pictures says he will direct.

The Minecraft movie has been in development for several years and will include a posthumous tribute to the late producer Jill Messick.

Mary Parent and Roy Lee are also producing with Lydia Winters and Vu Bui of Minecraft developer Mojang Studios. Executive producers include Jon Berg, Cale Boyter and Jon Spaihts.

Minecraft was first released by Mojang Studios in 2009 and has since become the best-selling video game of all time, with more than 238 million copies sold.

The video game uses simplified, block-like graphics and encourages creativity by letting players design buildings and landscapes using different terrains and objects, all in block form. Minecraft-related spinoff games such as Minecraft: Story Mode have imagined new stories set in animated Minecraft worlds, but how this will translate into a live-action adaptation – and what role Jason Momoa can get in it – remains to be seen.

There have been attempts in the past to turn Minecraft into a movie, but these have not been successful. At one point, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Rob McElhenney was set to direct the film but eventually parted ways with the project. In 2019, it was reported that Freeheld director Peter Sollett would be making Minecraft, but that didn’t work out either. Steve Carell was among the actors reportedly considered for the role, but he will not be involved in the current version with Hess and Momoa.

It seems that the continued success of video game adaptations has given the Minecraft movie the boost it needs to get made finally. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 recently debuted to spectacular success, beating the opening record previously set by the 2020 original. And Mortal Kombat was the most streamed new release on HBO Max in 2021. Several other big-name adaptations, including a new Super Mario Bros. movie and TV series based on The Last of Us and Twisted Metal, are in the works.

Jason Momoa and Warner Bros. will bring DC fans a sequel to Aquaman next year.

The sequel, titled Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, will see Momoa return as the titular superhero after Aquaman made over a billion dollars at the box office. Directed by James Wan, the sequel also stars Amber Heard, Dolph Lundgren, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Temuera Morrison.

After several delays, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is scheduled to hit theatres on March 17, 2023. The Minecraft movie has no official release date yet; perhaps the studio is waiting to see if this version finally gets the gears turning before announcing it.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter