When Did the Minecraft Movie Start Production?

Key Production Timeline at a Glance

The Minecraft movie began active development around 2018, with Warner Bros. first announcing a live-action adaptation in October 2018 and confirming a director and writers in 2019. Principal photography was officially set to start in 2023 but has been delayed and rescheduled multiple times, with reported production windows targeting 2024 and 2025. Below is a detailed breakdown of confirmed milestones, writer and director changes, and publicly shared production dates.

Early Development and Studio Involvement

Notch (Markus Persson) originally explored interest in a film adaptation around 2012, but nothing moved past early discussions. Years later, with Microsoft owning Minecraft, renewed interest surfaced, leading Microsoft and Warner Bros. to join forces for a live-action feature. In October 2018, Warner Bros. Pictures announced it would produce a live-action film based on Minecraft. Early development began shortly after, while the studio sought the right creative team to adapt the game’s blocky, player-driven sandbox into a coherent narrative.

Initial Writers and Early Drafts

By early 2019, screenwriter Rob McElhenney was attached as writer and producer. Later that year, the project secured Minecraft creator Markus Persson in an advisory role. However, creative differences led the studio to part ways with McElhenney in early 2020. Kieran and Michele Mulroney were brought on to rewrite the script, and in September 2020, the film was formally set up at Warner Bros. with a target start date for production in 2022.

Directorial Changes and Production Delays

In December 2020, Jared Hess was confirmed as director, a choice seen as aligning with the game’s playful tone. Filming was initially planned for Vancouver in 2022 but was postponed multiple times. Hess stepped down in April 2022, citing personal reasons, further pushing the timeline. By 2023, Rawson Marshall Thurber was attached as director and set to begin production in 2023. Yet by 2024, filming had not commenced, leading to further speculation about script and scheduling adjustments.

Renewed Start Dates and Public Statements

Throughout 2023 and into 2024, Warner Bros. and producers offered conflicting signals. Public reports in late 2023 suggested filming might begin in early 2024. Later announcements in 2024 referenced an intention to start production in 2025. These repeated shifts reflect the challenges of coordinating a high-profile video-game adaptation with complex visual and narrative requirements.

Verified Timeline of Key Milestones

The table below summarizes major dates and milestones that are corroborated by trade reporting and studio announcements. When available, exact months are noted; where only years are confirmed, they are stated as such.

Current Status and Next Steps

As of mid-2025, the Minecraft movie has not entered principal photography. Production is in advanced pre-production, with script and casting work continuing. While earlier intentions pointed to a 2023 or 2024 start, the current target is 2025. The film remains a high-profile video-game adaptation for Warner Bros., and further announcements regarding cast, specific locations, and an official start date are anticipated as plans solidify.

Production Delays: Why the Shifts?

Multiple factors have contributed to repeated delays: the complexity of translating Minecraft’s gameplay into a coherent story, leadership changes at the studio and creative team, and broader industry scheduling pressures. Each change in director has brought script revisions and logistical adjustments, while the need to secure suitable filming locations and manage high audience expectations has also slowed progress.

Common Reasons for Delay

• Creative differences and director turnover, leading to script rewrites
• Coordinating rights and approvals across Microsoft and Warner Bros.
• Logistical challenges of building large-scale practical sets for a game world
• Post-pandemic production scheduling adjustments

Looking Ahead

While firm on-screen dates remain unconfirmed, industry observers expect active production to begin as soon as a finalized shooting schedule is announced. Fans can anticipate further casting news, production design reveals, and official start-of-filming announcements in the coming months. The project’s long development arc mirrors that of other video-game adaptations that prioritize getting the story and world right over rushing to market.

Wrap-Up

The Minecraft movie entered active development in 2018 and moved through early writer and director setups in 2019–2020. Official plans for a production start surfaced in 2022, but multiple postponements have shifted the target to 2025. With current reporting indicating advanced pre-production, the film remains a significant upcoming adaptation in the video-game film space, though no concrete start-of-filming date has been confirmed.