Minecraft Movie Leaks Are Weirder Than We Ever Imagined

It's a booming era for video game adaptations, with projects like "The Last of Us" and "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" showing the world that games can become great TV shows and movies. Long before either of those adaptations saw the light of day, however, a "Minecraft" movie was announced at Warner Bros. Plans for the film date all the way back to 2014, and after years of ups and downs, the movie officially has an April 2025 release window. Even though the movie's release is less than a year away, we know surprisingly little about what to expect from "Minecraft." There's no obvious plotline for a movie to adapt, and everyone working on the movie has been fairly tight-lipped about what we're going to see. Fans know the "Minecraft" cast includes Jack Black, Jason Momoa, and Kate McKinnon, but that's really about it.

Though the studio is still trying to keep things as top secret as possible, some style guide documents have apparently leaked online and are quickly making the rounds. The leaked pages offer a look at character designs and a morsel of information about the story. It honestly all looks a little weird, and the internet is having some strong reactions.

It seems like Warner Bros. is doing its best to keep the leaks from being seen, as the images are being pulled from social media just about as quickly as fans can re-post them. It's entirely possible that everything we've seen will be scrubbed soon — but that fact lends the bizarre leaks a sense of authenticity.

Therapist: Live Action Minecraft isn't real, it can't hurt you.

Live action Minecraft: pic.twitter.com/Zuu0uYAVJD

— Elijah Dal Broi/ Movie Lover ✝️ 🇦🇺 (@BroiElijah) July 19, 2024

If you do get a chance to look at the leaked images, they'll be living rent-free in your head for a while. The style guide shows off three different classic "Minecraft" creatures: a bee, a pink sheep, and the infamous creeper. All of them look a bit like stylized stuffed animals with a deep thirst for blood. They maintain the blocky designs of the game, but they all have a fuzzy texture reminiscent of shag carpet. They look strangely realistic, yet also uncanny and unsettling.

At least Steve looks normal. The pages show Jack Black wearing a blue t-shirt and wielding a trusty pickaxe. His design page also has a little bit to say about his role in the story. Apparently Steve is a native to the "Minecraft" world who's living peacefully with his wolf Dennis, at least when the story begins. According to the document, "Then the evil Malgosha captured him. Now his freedom lies in the hands of four fresh visitors to his world..." Sounds like a solid enough basis for an adventure.

The leaks really don't tell us much about the "Minecraft" movie. The cute animals clue us in that the movie will lean family-friendly, but there's likely still plenty of room to work in all the "Minecraft" details that are just for adults. As the leaks have circulated online, fans seem less concerned with the movie's story than its visuals. Some are absolutely devastated that the "Minecraft" movie is going for a semi-realistic look rather than full animation. That's not a universally held opinion, though. There are people who are fully on board for the strangeness of Jack Black running around with CGI creatures.

I actually think this is more fun and interesting than taking a generic animated approach we need weird ass movies again and the sheep is just hilarious 😭

— Wade Whipple69🇵🇸🇺🇸 (@Vyliziomega) July 19, 2024

Even people who like the general art direction have some hang ups, though. The fuzzy texture on the Creeper just doesn't sit right for some people who've been absorbing "Minecraft" lore for over a decade.

It's definitely trying to feel like Minecraft, but with more realism. I kind of think of it like a "real-life" texture pack.

Now, Notch once said that Creepers' skin would look "crunchy like dry leaves," but I can't tell if it's fuzzy or mossy. The resolution is too low.

— August Renders™ (@August_Renders) July 19, 2024

Luckily for the movie, there are a few fans that are 100% here for what they're seeing. They've got no notes and no complaints. 

PEOPLE, THE DESIGNS IN THIS MOVIE DO NOT LOOK BAD, IN FACT I LOVE THEM, WELL, THE DESIGN OF THE SHEEP DOESN'T CONVINCE ME THAT MUCH. BUT I'M SURE THIS WILL BE CINEMA.❤️‍🩹💯🔥🔥

— Sonic Del Barrio201224 (@KollyIsaac) July 19, 2024

We'll have to wait a while before we know for sure if these leaked pages are real, but the fact that the images have been pulled down so quickly is definitely going to make more people into believers. Whether you love or hate what you see, it's worth withholding any real judgment until an official trailer drops. Don't dismiss this video game movie just yet.