Director Jared Hess is taking on the enormous task of bringing the beloved video game Minecraft to life in a live-action movie. In a recent conversation with The Salt Lake Tribune, Hess expressed his determination to avoid any missteps like the infamous 'Ugly Sonic' fiasco, ensuring that he doesn't disappoint the young fans of the game.
The reference to the 'Ugly Sonic' situation harkens back to the initial trailer of the 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog film. The design of the iconic character, with human-like eyes and teeth, was met with widespread negative criticism. Fans were vocally unhappy with the departure from the beloved video game character's appearance. Responding to the intense backlash, the production team decided to go back to the drawing board and redesign Sonic to a form more faithful to the original look. This course correction paid off as the film went on to achieve considerable success, grossing $319.7 million worldwide. Its sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, was released in 2022 and outperformed its predecessor, raking in $405.4 million globally. The highly anticipated Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is expected to hit theaters at the end of this year.
Interestingly, the misstep with the initial trailer did lead to a humorous turn of events. The 'Ugly Sonic' design unexpectedly made appearances in the live-action comedy, Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers. It featured Sonic selling his own merchandise at a ComicCon event and even playing a vital role in the film's plot. So, it seems that even an 'ugly' version of Sonic can find some redemption.
Undaunted by the magnitude of the task before him, Jared Hess eagerly embraces the challenge of adapting Minecraft for the big screen. The director, known for films like Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre, acknowledges that Minecraft, being an open sandbox game without a defined story, presents an exciting opportunity to create something fun and ridiculous.
Minecraft, the 3D survival sandbox game, has achieved tremendous success since its release, becoming the best-selling video game of all time with over 300 million copies sold and nearly 140 million monthly active players. While the specific plot details of the live-action adaptation remain undisclosed, the film boasts an impressive cast that includes Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, Jack Black, Emma Myers, Sebastian Eugene Hansen, and Jennifer Coolidge, the recent Emmy Award winner who has been announced as a new addition to the cast.
As fans eagerly await the release of the Minecraft movie, they can rest assured that director Jared Hess is determined to honor the game's legacy and bring a joyful and faithful adaptation to the screen. With the talent involved and an exciting premise, it remains to be seen how Minecraft will come to life and capture the imaginations of both gamers and non-gamers alike.
