Warner Bros. has debuted the first teaser trailer today for the long-awaited live-action Minecraft movie. The adaptation of Mojang’s global sensation sandbox will feature a star-studded cast with the likes of Jack Black, Aquaman actor Jason Momoa, Emma Myers from Wednesday, Danielle Brooks, Sebastian Eugene Hansen, and Jennifer Coolidge.

The story will follow four “misfits” — Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, Henry, Natalie, and Dawn — stranded in the world of Minecraft and tasked with protecting it from Piglins and Zombies.

As the official synopsis states, “Welcome to the world of Minecraft, where creativity doesn’t just help you craft, it’s essential to one’s survival! 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: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they’ll have to master this world (and protect it from evil things like Piglins and Zombies, too) while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected, expert crafter, Steve (Black). Together, their adventure will challenge all five to be bold and to reconnect with the qualities that make each of them uniquely creative… the very skills they need to thrive back in the real world.”

While the story seems promising — more so because the original Minecraft game hardly has any semblance of a narrative — the trailer has fanned the flames of scepticism among fans of the popular game. A quick glance through the comments on Warner Bros’ YouTube video would reveal a lukewarm reception and a river of brutal comments.

At the core of the criticism was the trailer's portrayal of the Minecraft universe and its deviation from the game’s signature, blocky, pixelated style. Many were surprised to see a more traditional, live-action approach, which starkly contrasts with the game’s distinct visual elements. Realistic graphics and a more narrative-driven storyline is perhaps what undermines the essence of the world’s best-selling video game.

Warner Bros.’ “A Minecraft Movie” will be directed by Jared Hess, and is the first-ever big screen, live-action adaptation of Minecraft. It is set to release on April 4, 2025.