After the widespread success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Hollywood is on the hunt for the the next big video game-to-film adaptation.
Warner Bros. Discovery has answered that call with A Minecraft Movie, based on the popular sandbox game Minecraft. The movie is set for a 2025 release and features a stellar cast, including Jason Momoa and Jack Black.
Despite the game’s success, the film may not have the impact Warner Bros. hopes for. Guinness World Records has Minecraft listed as the most successful video game of all time, with more than 300 million units sold, and has a loyal fandom.
Let’s dive into the controversy surrounding A Minecraft Movie.
Fan Reactions to A Minecraft Movie Trailer
The teaser trailer for A Minecraft Movie was released on September 4. It was immediately met with backlash.
People quickly took to social media to express their reservations and disappointment.
One Reddit user describes the film as “a Minecraft knockoff of the new Jumanji movies,” noting that the trailer suggests the main characters are transported into the Minecraft world, much like the newer Jumanji films.
While not much is known about the plot, from the trailer, it seems the characters face trials or puzzles within the Minecraft world.
Many fans are also put off by the CGI design—especially the portrayal of the Minecraft animals.
“It should have been an animated movie like Mario not live action,” another Redditor says—with over 13,000 upvotes signaling agreement.
Some believe A Minecraft Movie might follow in the footsteps of Sonic the Hedgehog, where the studio overhauled Sonic’s design after poor audience feedback.
YouTuber Tyrecordslol, who has nearly five million subscribers, posted a video detailing his disappointment with the teaser trailer. In it, he talks about the joy of playing Minecraft and the fun he and countless others have had with the game.
He echoes the sentiments of many fans called for Warner Bros. Discovery to pull an “ugly Sonic move” and redo the CGI and animated portions of the movie.
However, A Minecraft Movie has already concluded filming, meaning any changes would have to align with the work the actors have already done.
The Jason Momoa Controversy
Jason Momoa, who is supposed to me one of the film’s major draws, might actually deter some audiences from seeing A Minecraft Movie.
Streamer Rachell Marie Hofstetter, better known as Valkyrae, says that she witnessed the Aquaman actor mistreat the crew on set. Hofstetter, who did a cameo in the film, said it was her worst celebrity experience.
On a dual stream with Jason Nyugen, she describes Momoa’s alleged behavior:
“I just saw him mistreat some of the crew, and it was pretty disappointing. It was a very emotional scene, so maybe he was still in character—I don’t know—but I was kind of surprised by how he treated the crew…He was just really mad at them for not doing something right, like setting up the shot. He was yelling. So I thought, ‘This is not a good work environment. I would not be happy to work under those conditions.’”
Hofstetter didn’t go into detail about what exactly was said, but it was clearly bad enough to leave a lasting impression.
This isn’t the first time Momoa has faced allegations of poor behavior on set. He was also accused of being intoxicated while filming Aquaman 2.
Can A Minecraft Movie Be Saved?
While the Minecraft Movie trailer has disappointed fans so far, they haven’t entirely written it off.
Some Reddit users are calling for a CGI overhaul, showing they’re still willing to give the movie a chance if improvements are made.
However, with an unusual storyline and drama surrounding the cast, the movie’s success is uncertain.
Regardless, A Minecraft Movie is set to hit theaters in April 2025.
This article is for informational purposes only. Trendy Matters has no affiliation with any of the brands or individuals mentioned, and the views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
