Apparently, Jack Black wasn't the first pick for Steve in A Minecraft Movie—It was meant to go to Matt Berry, according to Hollywood rumours

When it comes to video game adaptations, few titles come with as much cultural weight as Minecraft. A global phenomenon for over a decade, its influence spans across generations, inspiring everything from classroom lessons to million-dollar YouTube empires. So when Hollywood announced A Minecraft Movie, anticipation—and skepticism—naturally followed.

The Missed Magic of Matt Berry
According to reporting by Puck, Matt Berry—best known for his hilariously over-the-top role as Laszlo Cravensworth in What We Do in the Shadows—was initially meant to voice the iconic blocky protagonist, Steve. Unfortunately, fate (or more specifically, a scheduling conflict) intervened. Berry was busy wrapping up the final season of his vampire mockumentary series during Minecraft's filming window.

Berry’s unique voice—rich, booming, and undeniably British—would have added a distinctive flair to the character. His comedic timing and theatrical delivery could have turned even the simplest Minecraft commands into quotable gold. Just imagine him announcing “Diamond acquired!” with Shakespearean gusto.

Jack Black’s Passion Project
Despite not being everyone’s first choice, Jack Black brings a raw, unfiltered enthusiasm to the project that’s hard to ignore. His love for the game isn’t just a marketing stunt—it’s genuine. Director Jared Hess recalled how Black would spend breaks in his trailer fully immersed in the game, particularly obsessed with mining lapis lazuli.

"He was in his trailer anytime he had a break—he was just slaying it in the Overworld,” Hess said. "They even built a custom server for the crew, and Jack would show up to set in full Steve gear, fresh off a mining session."

This type of method acting (if we can call it that) adds a layer of authenticity to Black’s performance. While some fans might have preferred a more grounded or nuanced portrayal, there's something undeniably charming about his full-throttle commitment to block-breaking and mob-slaying.

A Multiverse of Minecraft
While Jack Black is the Steve we got, it's hard not to mourn the loss of the Matt Berry version that could've been. And in true nerd fashion, that thought naturally leads to a cosmic “what if.”

The idea of alternate realities—where every possible outcome plays out somewhere in the vast multiverse—was first introduced by physicist Hugh Everett III in 1957. According to this theory, there's a version of our universe where Berry's scheduling aligned perfectly, and his rendition of Steve now echoes through pixelated valleys and cobblestone castles.

It’s a fun notion to cling to: Somewhere out there, Matt Berry might be declaring “Redstone!” like it’s a royal decree.

A Glimpse of Berry and a Bittersweet Conclusion
Though Berry didn’t get to play the lead, fans can still spot him in a small cameo—one that, unsurprisingly, steals the scene despite its brevity. It’s a delightful tease of what could’ve been and proof that even a few minutes of Berry can leave an impression.

In the end, A Minecraft Movie might not have given us the version we dreamed of, but it gave us a version that thrives on passion, play, and pixelated nostalgia. And thanks to Jack Black’s genuine enthusiasm and Matt Berry’s cameo, fans of both actors get a little something to enjoy.

But just maybe—just maybe—in a parallel world built from blocks and rendered in dreams, Matt Berry is still out there…crafting, mining, and narrating every moment with thunderous grace.