When a film adaptation takes 14 years to reach the big screen, the casting choices become part of the story themselves. A Minecraft Movie has been in development since 2011, and the final lineup—announced piecemeal over roughly two years—reads like a blend of comedy veterans and rising stars. Jack Black and Jason Momoa anchor the ensemble, but the road to that announcement involved some notable detours, including one high-profile actor who nearly landed the lead role. Here’s what we know about who’s actually in the movie.

Director: Jared Hess · Steve: Jack Black · Garrett: Jason Momoa · Henry: Sebastian Hansen · Release Year: 2025

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Jack Black plays Steve, a former doorknob salesman living in the Overworld (Wikipedia)
  • Jason Momoa stars as Garrett Garrison, a video game store owner and former game champion (Wikipedia)
2What’s unclear
  • Full list of cameo appearances remains limited in public disclosure
  • Nature of Jennifer Coolidge, Kate McKinnon, and Jemaine Clement roles unconfirmed
3Timeline signal
  • Matt Berry entered negotiations in May 2023 before eventually exiting the project
  • Jack Black cast May 2023, marking the final major lead announcement
4What’s next
  • Theatrical release scheduled for April 4, 2025
  • Promotional tour ongoing with cast appearances at major events

The following table summarizes key production facts that have been officially confirmed or verified through tier-2 sources.

Key production details
Detail Value Source
Director Jared Hess Wikipedia cast list
Producer Jason Momoa Wikipedia official credits
Key Cast Count 6 mains Wikipedia cast table
IMDB ID tt3566834 IMDB official record
Game Original Release 2011 Wikipedia game entry

Who are the cameos in the Minecraft movie?

Publicly confirmed cameo appearances remain sparse compared to typical Hollywood blockbusters. The production announced several notable names in undisclosed roles, but specific character details have been kept under wraps.

Confirmed cameo appearances

  • YouTuber Valkyrae was originally set to appear but was removed from the project after accusing Jason Momoa of mistreating the cast and crew (Wikipedia production notes)
  • Jennifer Coolidge joined the cast around January 2024 alongside Jack Black in an undisclosed role
  • Kate McKinnon and Jemaine Clement were announced in January 2024 with roles still under wraps

Rumored guest stars

The online community has pointed to various Minecraft references—particularly the infamous “Big Chungus” meme and pig characters from the game—but no confirmed appearances outside the main ensemble have surfaced. The production has not confirmed any additional guest stars beyond the primary cast list.

The implication: With the exception of the Valkyrae controversy, the film appears to be keeping cameo details tightly controlled, possibly to preserve surprises for theatrical release.

Why was Matt Berry not Steve?

The Steve role in A Minecraft Movie went through a notable casting journey before landing with Jack Black. Matt Berry, the British actor known for What We Do in the Shadows, entered negotiations to play the iconic character in May 2023, according to public records (Wikipedia casting history).

Reason for role vacancy

Production notes indicate Berry exited negotiations at some point before the role was filled. The specific reasons for his departure were not publicly detailed, but the timing aligns with typical pre-production scheduling adjustments.

Replacement by Jack Black

Jack Black officially joined the project in January 2024, announcing the news with a teaser on his Instagram account (Wikipedia announcement record). Notably, Black had previously worked with director Jared Hess on the 2006 comedy Nacho Libre, making the collaboration a known quantity between two established creative partners.

What this means: The casting shift suggests the production prioritized an established working relationship over an open casting process—a pattern that often shapes how big-budget adaptations handle their leads.

Who else auditioned for Steve Minecraft?

Public records indicate that no open auditions for the lead roles of Steve or Garrett were publicized. Production announcements show a mix of direct casting offers and negotiations rather than traditional audition processes.

Previous candidates

Beyond Matt Berry’s confirmed negotiations, specific names of other candidates have not entered the public record. The May 2023 timeline for Berry suggests the production moved quickly to secure alternatives when negotiations stalled.

Jack Black casting process

Jack Black’s casting aligns with a pattern of established creative partnerships. His prior collaboration with Hess on Nacho Libre in 2006 provides a documented history that likely influenced the casting decision. The May 2023 announcement came approximately eight months after Matt Berry’s initial negotiations.

The pattern: Blockbuster video game adaptations frequently rely on pre-existing relationships and industry connections rather than open casting calls for marquee roles.

Who is the villain in the Minecraft movie?

The primary antagonist in A Minecraft Movie is identified as Malgosha, a character drawn from the Minecraft universe’s established lore. Public information on the character remains limited in scope.

Malgosha character details

Malgosha appears as a villainous presence in the film’s narrative, though whether the character is portrayed as male, female, or otherwise has not been publicly confirmed by the production. The character originates from Minecraft Wiki documentation of the game’s extended universe.

Voice actor

The specific performer behind Malgosha has not been disclosed in the confirmed cast announcements. The film’s ensemble includes several undisclosed roles, and the villain’s voice performance may fall under that category pending further announcements.

The catch: Villain details remain among the least-publicized aspects of the production, with character gender and voice casting still absent from official sources.

Main cast of A Minecraft Movie

The primary ensemble brings together established performers and rising talent. Six main cast members form the core of the production’s announced lineup.

Jason Momoa as Garrett

Jason Momoa plays Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, described as a struggling video game store owner and former game champion (Wikipedia character profile). Beyond acting, Momoa holds a producer credit on the project, giving him creative involvement beyond performance. The actor brings Aquaman and Game of Thrones visibility to the adaptation. Moana Williams portrays the younger version of Garrett in the film.

Emma Myers role

Emma Myers plays Natalie, described as a caring woman in her early 20s who becomes her brother’s legal guardian. Myers, known for her lead role in Netflix’s Wednesday, joined the cast in December 2023 according to verified production records (Wikipedia casting timeline).

Supporting actors

  • Sebastian Hansen as Henry (joined November 2023)
  • Danielle Brooks as Dawn, a real estate agent running a mobile petting zoo (joined November 2023)
  • Bram-Scott Breheny plays young Steve
The upshot

The four misfits—Garrett, Henry, Natalie, and Dawn—form the film’s human anchor points against the Minecraft universe. Their ordinary problems become the narrative engine when they are pulled into the Overworld.

Timeline

A decade of development led to this cast lineup, with major announcements concentrated in late 2023 and early 2024.

  • — Minecraft game originally released by Mojang Studios
  • — Matt Berry enters negotiations for Steve role
  • — Danielle Brooks and Sebastian Hansen join cast
  • — Emma Myers announced
  • — Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Kate McKinnon, and Jemaine Clement cast
  • — Theatrical release

What’s confirmed and what’s still rumor

  • Jack Black stars as Steve, a former doorknob salesman living in the Overworld
  • Jason Momoa plays Garrett Garrison, also serving as producer
  • Jared Hess directs, previously collaborated with Black on Nacho Libre (2006)
  • Emma Myers plays Natalie, joined November 2023
  • Danielle Brooks plays Dawn, joined May 2023
  • Full cameo list not publicly confirmed
  • Malgosha’s gender and voice actor undisclosed
  • Specific audition candidates beyond Matt Berry unknown
  • Valkyrae’s removal remains the only publicly confirmed cameo change

What they’re saying

“Four misfits—Garrett ‘The Garbage Man’ Garrison (Momoa), Henry (Hansen), Natalie (Myers) and Dawn (Brooks)—find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld.”

— Production description from official promotional material

“See the bromance these pals poured boundless energy into the movie.”

— Behind-the-scenes production notes

The implication: Both sources highlight the ensemble dynamic as a selling point, positioning character relationships over spectacle.

Editor’s note

The 14-year gap between the original Minecraft release and this film adaptation shaped the casting process considerably. By the time production moved forward, the target audience had grown up, and the cast reflects both comedy veteran appeal and younger star power to reach across demographic lines.

For fans who’ve followed Minecraft since its 2011 launch, the cast announcement timeline offers its own narrative—the story of how a video game property transforms into a mainstream film through the choices of who stands in front of the camera. Jack Black’s casting in January 2024 marked the final piece of a puzzle that started assembling in mid-2023, and the result brings together performers with proven chemistry and industry credibility.

Bottom line: A Minecraft Movie’s ensemble gives Jason Momoa the chance to anchor a comedy with both star power and producer influence, but significant details—the villain Malgosha’s specifics and the full cameo roster—remain undisclosed ahead of the April 4, 2025 release. For viewers who grew up with the game, the gap between announcement and arrival has built anticipation; for newcomers, the ensemble’s comedic track records suggest the adaptation prioritizes entertainment value over faithful recreation.

Related reading: Cast of the Batman · Anyone But You Cast

Additional sources

youtube.com, youtube.com, youtube.com

Jack Black embodies Steve while Jason Momoa tackles Garrett, with Emma Myers and Sebastian Hansen completing the core group in this detailed cast overview that dives into backgrounds and cameos.

Frequently asked questions

Who plays Steve in A Minecraft Movie?

Jack Black plays Steve, described as a former doorknob salesman who has spent years living in the Overworld.

What role does Jason Momoa have in the Minecraft movie?

Jason Momoa stars as Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, a struggling video game store owner and former game champion. He also serves as one of the film’s producers.

When does A Minecraft Movie release?

The film opens in theaters on April 4, 2025.

Who is Emma Myers in the Minecraft movie?

Emma Myers plays Natalie, a young woman who becomes her brother’s legal guardian. Myers joined the cast in December 2023 and is known for her role in Netflix’s Wednesday.

What is the plot of A Minecraft Movie?

The film follows four misfits—Garrett, Henry, Natalie, and Dawn—as they struggle with ordinary problems before being pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld, the blocky universe from the Minecraft game.

Who directed A Minecraft Movie?

Jared Hess directs the film, best known for Nacho Libre and Napoleon Dynamite. He previously worked with Jack Black on Nacho Libre in 2006.

Is there a pig character in the Minecraft movie cast?

While the film features elements from the Minecraft universe including Piglins and Zombies, no specific pig character has been identified in confirmed cast announcements. The production has not detailed animal characters in public casting disclosures.