Minecraft (franchise)
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| Based on | Minecraft by |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 46 (list of episodes) |
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| Production location | Vancouver, British Columbia |
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| Release | June 10, 2022 – September 17, 2028 |
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Minecraft is an American media franchise which features two fantasy drama television series created by Freddie Goodwin for Netflix, based on the popular video game Minecraft, originally developed by Markus "Notch" Persson and Mojang Studios. The franchise features one game, multiple television series, multiple feature films, and books. The franchise was created in 2016 alongside the release of Minecraft – Story Mode and the release of the live-action film A Minecraft Movie. The first television series, Minecraft, premiered on June 10, 2022; the successor Minecraft: Block Wars season 1, was ordered and premiered in 2030. Multiple spin-offs starting with Agent Derp (2024) and most recently The Nightingale (2030).
Development on the media franchise began in 2011 following the full release of the game. The original series was conceived by Goodwin following the release of the Minecraft film in 2017. Initially envisioned as a comedy-driven show featuring lead characters Steve Stonecutter and Alex Stonecutter, the project was greenlit after Mob Productions approached Goodwin to adapt the game into a serialized format. The series was originally planned to run for at least six years across seven seasons, with the first season releasing in 2022 and the second slated for 2023. However, due to the mixed reception of certain episodes in the first season, Goodwin postponed the second season to 2024 to improve the overall quality.
Since 2029, there has been a total of 46 episodes in released. Goodwin has confirmed plans to produce at least 40 additional episodes over the next four years, expanding the interconnected narrative and adopting a floating timeline system to ensure characters remain usable indefinitely unless killed off.
Set in the fictional dimension known as the Overworld, Minecraft features multiple story arcs. The first major arc, Villains of Doom, introduces Herobrine, Null, and Entity 303 as primary antagonists. In the second season, these villains resurface after their apparent defeat, while Steve grapples with his past trauma and Derp faces a mysterious adversary connected to the Good Justice Society.
The media franchise has garnered a record-breaking viewership on Netflix and boasts a diverse, active international fan base. Critics have praised the show’s voice acting, character development, storytelling, world-building, and production quality. While the first season received two award nominations, it did not secure any wins.
Films[edit | edit source]
The Herobrine Saga[edit | edit source]
The films released from 2016 through to 2027 collectively create the "Herobrine Saga". The saga focuses entirely on Steve and the battle between the heroes and Herobrine.
| Film | U.S. release date | Director | Screenwriter(s) | Story by | Producers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minecraft | June 10, 2016 | Freddie Goodwin | Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman | John Rogers, Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman | Freddie Goodwin |
| Minecraft: Block Wars | December 12, 2019 | Ehren Kruger, Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman | |||
| Agent Derp | March 19, 2021 | Ehren Kruger | |||
| Minecraft: The Nether Wars | December 20, 2023 | ||||
| Minecraft: Nether Infinite | September 20, 2024 | Freddie Goodwin, Myla Salazar, and Leo Blackwell | Freddie Goodwin, Benjamin Knowles, Georgiana Valentine, Rabia Nicholson | ||
| Minecraft: Endgame | December 21, 2027 | Ehren Kruger | Ehren Kruger, Myla Salazar, and Leo Blackwell | Benjamin Knowles, Georgiana Valentine, Rabia Nicholson | |
Television series[edit | edit source]
Overview[edit | edit source]
In the first season, siblings Steve and Alex Stonecutter, along with their ally Derp, face unforeseen challenges in their journey through a vast multiverse. Haunted by visions and pursued by relentless threats, they encounter the enigmatic Good Justice Society (GJS) and confront the malevolent Angel of Death. As they battle formidable foes like Herobrine and uncover dark secrets, the trio must navigate through treacherous dimensions, including the Nether and the End, to protect their world. Along the way, they forge new alliances, face heartbreaking losses, and ultimately confront a powerful evil that threatens to engulf their reality in chaos.
In the second season, Steve and his allies embark on a quest to find the Nether Star, which they need to empower Alex's Staff of Wonder, leading them to face dangerous battles and uncover mysterious visions hinting at greater threats. Along the way, they confront the resurfaced villain Warewolf, contend with a monstrous titan in the Nether, and grapple with the emerging menace of the Celestials. As they work to protect their world, the team faces escalating challenges, including powerful enemies from the Nether and dark secrets within the Good Justice Society, testing their resolve and unity.
Characters[edit | edit source]
The main characters of Minecraft are collectively known as the "Heroes," including Steve Stonecutter, Alex Stonecutter, Derp, Nova, and Jackster, alongside their sidekick Buddy. The series also features a roster of villains determined to eliminate the heroes, such as Herobrine, Entity 303, Null, Warewolf, and Malgazar. The characters are portrayed by an ensemble cast that includes Amy Poehler as Alex, Danielle Rogueson as Nova, Jack Black as Steve, Jason Momoa as Derp, and Tom Holland as Jackster.
In addition to the central Heroes and villains, the show includes a vast array of supporting characters that enrich the world of the Overworld. Many of these supporting characters began as minor figures or comic relief but were later expanded into more prominent roles. Over time, some have even starred in episodes focusing on their individual stories. This approach mirrors the strategy employed by other ensemble-driven shows, emphasizing a wide and diverse cast of recurring personalities to build depth and variety in storytelling.
Continuity and the floating timeline[edit | edit source]
The series was originally conceived to follow a traditional timeline, spanning six planned seasons. However, by the second season, the writers realized that this format limited the narrative’s flexibility. In response, they implemented a floating timeline beginning with the third season. Under this new structure, episodes are generally set in the year they are produced, allowing the story to evolve organically without being constrained by a fixed chronology.
The floating timeline also extends to flashbacks and flashforwards, which depict the characters at various stages of their lives. These sequences align approximately with the production year of the episodes, ensuring consistency while providing opportunities to explore the characters’ pasts and futures within the framework of the evolving narrative. This approach offers greater creative freedom while maintaining continuity across the series.
Setting[edit | edit source]
The series unfolds across three distinct dimensions inspired by the video game of the same name: the Overworld, Nether, and the End. Each dimension is governed by its own set of unique rules, adding to their distinctiveness. Within the series, these dimensions are crucial plot devices, often shaping the journeys and challenges faced by various characters and beasts.
Production[edit | edit source]
Development[edit | edit source]
In 2012, Mojang received multiple offers from Hollywood producers seeking to create Minecraft-related television shows. However, Mojang declined, stating they would only pursue such projects when "the right idea comes along." In July 2013, Freddie Goodwin began developing an animated television series that explored fan-created narratives centered around the characters Steve and Alex. Goodwin cited inspiration from Squared Media for the scripts and revealed that each season would feature multiple villains, with one serving as the primary antagonist causing chaos throughout the season. Goodwin wrote most of the episodes alongside Greene, with all episodes directed by Goodwin himself. He expressed interest in producing a second season if the cast was willing and if the first season received positive reviews and reception from fans.
By 2017, a writer’s room for the series had been formed, and the series was officially announced in 2020. In addition to Goodwin and Greene, other writers contributed to the series, with Goodwin and Greene also serving as producers for the first season. In November 2021, it was confirmed that the team would adapt storylines from Squared Media productions. Goodwin explained that the first season would tell "one of many stories" and compared the narrative structure to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), borrowing elements from multiple storylines to build a cohesive arc. According to Goodwin, the story drew heavily from Animation Life 1–3 and potentially incorporated aspects from the Minecraft comics.
Following the release of the second season, Goodwin initially planned to conclude the series with a third season. However, Netflix expressed interest in extending the series indefinitely and requested that Goodwin step down as showrunner to facilitate this expansion. In response, Goodwin approached Zachary Bennett to replace him as showrunner, ensuring the series would continue under new leadership.
Actors[edit | edit source]
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| Jack BlackMinecraft | Amy Poehler Zendaya S1Minecraft |
Danielle RoguesonMinecraft | Jason MomoaMinecraft | Tom HollandMinecraft | |
| Steve Stonecutter | Alex Stonecutter | Nova | Jackster | Derp | |
Mob Productions originally planned to cast two actors to carry the series in its lead roles. However, the studio ultimately opted for a more traditional approach, assigning set actors to specific characters throughout the seasons. Jack Black was cast as Steve, with Zendaya joining as Alex. In 2021, Tom Holland was brought on to voice Derp, expanding the central cast.
For the second season, several notable actors joined the project. Austin Madison portrayed Max / Erik Ravenwood, while Josh Brolin took on the role of the Angel of Death (AOD). Dylan Buccieri portrayed Warewolf, Assaf Cohen portrayed Null, Fred Tatasciore portrayed Entity 303, and Michael Cudlitz played Malgazar. James Earl Jones provided the voice of Herobrine in the first season, adding gravitas to the iconic character. Additionally, Dylan Buccieri, Assaf Cohen, Jessica DiCicco, Terri Douglas, Karen Huie, Arif S. Kinchen, Austin Madison, Cole Massie, Alisha Mullally, Kari Wahlgren, and Secunda Wood appeared in undisclosed roles across the series.
In January 2023, Zendaya announced her departure from the series, stating that she had only intended to participate for a single season. Mob Productions confirmed that the character of Alex would be recast. In June 2023, Amy Poehler was announced as Zendaya's replacement and has since portrayed Alex in all subsequent seasons.
Release[edit | edit source]
| Season | No. of
episodes |
Originally aired | Viewership | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Showrunner | No | Season premiere | Season finale | Time slot (ET) | Avg. viewers
(in millions) | |
| Minecraft | ||||||
| Freddie Goodwin | 1 | 10 | June 10, 2022 | Thursday 8:00 pm | 30.7 | |
| 2 | 10 | July 1, 2024 | August 19, 2024 | 24.4 | ||
| 3 | 10 | March 15, 2025 | 25.8 | |||
| Zachary Bennett | 4 | 8 | February 18, 2026 | 24.3 | ||
| Freddie Goodwin | 5 | 8 | September 17, 2028 | December 25, 2028 | 22.6 | |
| Block Wars | ||||||
| Myla Salazar | 1 | 6 | Tuesday 9:30 pm | ? | ||
Marketing[edit | edit source]
Minecraft was announced in 2020 alongside a possible second season with Squared Media sharing their plans for their YouTube channel animations.
The first trailer for the first season was released on March 15, 2022. Many commentators noted the heavy focus on Steve, Alex, and Derp to being a heavy focus on Steve and Alex. Linda Codega at Gizmodo said the trailer was "as adorable, fun, and exciting as the animations of absolutely excellent directorial decisions" and that the series looked like "a tone-perfect mashup of animations and storytelling".
The second season was announced as early as September 2022 and was originally slated for a 2023 release; however was delayed due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. A teaser trailer that revealed the new designs for the villains Warewolf, Entity 303, and Null was released on December 10, 2023. The first trailer was released on March 18, 2024; alongside a promo stating the episodes will release weekly. A final trailer was released on June 27, 2024, which also was released alongside various merch items that are available for purchase on a public online store from Mob Productions and the Warner Bros. Pictures website.
Throughout June 2024, Mob Productions released various posters showcasing the characters of the season, and released a video on June 16 showcasing Poehler as the new voice for Alex Stonecutter. Starting on June 15, various PDF photos of fake newspapers that teased big events and featured a crypted name; that was revealed to be "Something big is coming!".
Release[edit | edit source]
Minecraft was released simultaneously on June 10, 2022 on Disney+ and Max. Minecraft later was released on Netflix and Paramount+ in November 2022. The first season consisted of 10 episodes. A second season was released on July 1, 2024; the third season on March 15, 2025; the fourth season on February 18, 2026 and July 17. The fifth and final season on September 17, 2028, November 1, and December 25.
Block Wars was ordered as the sixth season of the main series.
Reception[edit | edit source]
Critical response[edit | edit source]
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 98% approval rating, with an average score of 8.9/10, based on 1202 reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Minecraft is a show that explores stories that have been made by fans for the fans." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 99 out of 100 based on 1002 critics, indicating "critical acclaim reviews".