Several months after “A Minecraft Movie” exploded on the scene and generated nearly $1 billion worldwide at theaters, director Jared Hess has announced that a sequel is in the works.
Jared Hess announces ‘A Minecraft Movie’ sequel
Hess, the Utah filmmaker behind “Napoleon Dynamite” and “Nacho Libre,” recently announced he is helming the sequel for “A Minecraft Movie.”
“Building terrain,” he recently wrote in an Instagram post. “See you in theaters July 23 2027.”
The announcement comes as “A Minecraft Movie” holds the No. 2 spot for highest-grossing film this year, behind “Lilo & Stitch,” Variety reported.
Hess has thanked Minecraft fans for their support and role in making the film such a major success.
“You all have seriously blown us away,“ he wrote in an Instagram post shortly after the film’s premiere in April. ”Your excitement has made ‘A Minecraft Movie’ such a bonkers experience. Seeing your costumes, songs, and reactions reminded us how incredibly creative and passionate this community is. Honestly, we’re just glad we got to craft something for you."
The highly anticipated “Minecraft” sequel will arrive on a big day for theaters — it shares the same release date as “The Simpsons Movie.”
While the storyline has not yet been revealed, the team behind “A Minecraft Movie” has indicated there are other worlds and characters to build out in the Minecraft-verse, per Deadline.
From ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ to ‘A Minecraft Movie’
Although it’s been two decades since Hess’ shoestring-budget film “Napoleon Dynamite” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and developed a cult following, the director seems to still carry the spirit of independent film with him as he works on blockbusters like “A Minecraft Movie.”
The offbeat humor and overall character of “Napoleon Dynamite” that won Sundance over, Hess has said, is alive and well in “A Minecraft Movie.”
“Inevitably, I think I just can’t get away from my upbringing in Idaho,” Hess, a Brigham Young University grad who now lives in Salt Lake City, previously told the Deseret News. “A lot of those details are gonna remain in my work no matter what I do. So yes, absolutely, you’re gonna feel some major dorkiness in this film.”
Compared to “Napoleon Dynamite,” the “Minecraft” production and budget was substantially bigger — and the cast flashier. But at its core, Hess’ approach to filmmaking has remained the same.
“You’re trying to tell a story that has interesting characters,” he said. “People that you care about and are rooting for.”