World of X – Part One

World of X – Part One
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Jackson Miller
Screenplay by	Ehren Kruger Freddie Goodwin
Story by	Alex Brow Jackson Miller
Based on	X-Men by Stan Lee Jack Kirby
Produced by	Alex Brow Jason Dale Jackson Miller
Starring	Ryan Reynolds Hugh Jackman
Cinematography	Mira Silverleaf
Edited by	Jordan Hayes Michael P. Shawver
Music by	Weston Doyle
Production company	Mob Productions
Distributed by	Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release date	June 9, 2025 (2025-06-09)
Running time	168 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$230 million
Box office	$1.136 billion

World of X – Part One is a 2025 American superhero film based on the X-Men characters created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, as well as characters and concepts originating from the Squared Media animated content on YouTube. Produced by Mob Productions and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the sixth film in the Minecraft Cinematic Universe (MCCU) and the first installment of the two-part World of X crossover event. The film was directed by Jackson Miller from a screenplay by Ehren Kruger and Freddie Goodwin, based on a story by Miller and Alex Brow, and stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.

Development of a film centered on Herobrine began by 2019, when Mob Productions announced several projects intended to expand the Minecraft Cinematic Universe. The project was initially envisioned as a standalone film following Herobrine and the formation of the Legion of Herobrine, but was extensively redeveloped after Miller joined as director. The story was expanded into an ensemble crossover that incorporated characters and concepts inspired by the X-Men, with Reynolds and Jackman joining the film as Wade Wilson / Deadpool and Logan / Wolverine, respectively. Due to the size of the planned story, Mob Productions divided the project into two films, with World of X – Part One concluding on a cliffhanger leading into World of X – Part Two. Principal photography began in March 2023 and concluded that November, with additional photography taking place during the first half of 2024.

World of X – Part One premiered in Los Angeles on June 2, 2025, and was released in the United States on June 9. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Miller's direction, the performances and chemistry of Reynolds and Jackman, the action sequences, visual effects, and the film's darker treatment of its Minecraft-inspired setting. Its runtime, extensive exposition, and incomplete narrative were criticized. The film grossed $1.136 billion worldwide against a production budget of $230 million, becoming the highest-grossing film in the Minecraft Cinematic Universe and one of the highest-grossing films of 2025. A sequel, World of X – Part Two, is scheduled to be released in November 2026.

Plot

Following a series of unexplained energy surges throughout the Overworld, villages and settlements begin disappearing without leaving physical remains. The incidents are investigated by the Order, an organization formed to protect the Overworld from supernatural threats. Their research indicates that the missing locations have not been destroyed, but removed from their reality and displaced into an unstable dimension known as the Void Between Worlds. At the center of the disturbances is Herobrine, an ancient entity who has returned after years of imprisonment beneath the ruins of the First World.

Herobrine gathers the Legion of Herobrine, a group of warriors, sorcerers, and corrupted beings who believe the Overworld can only survive if it is rebuilt under his control. The Legion begins collecting fragments of the Nexus, an artifact created during the formation of the Minecraft universe. When assembled, the Nexus is capable of joining separate realities together or erasing them entirely. Herobrine intends to use it to merge the surviving worlds into a single reality over which he will rule.

In another universe, Wade Wilson is attacked by creatures that emerge through a portal inside his apartment. Wade follows them into the Overworld, where he encounters Logan, who has spent several years living in isolation after the destruction of his world. Logan initially refuses to become involved, but changes his mind after discovering that the same dimensional energy used by Herobrine was present during the death of his universe. Wade and Logan are captured by the Order, whose members initially believe that their arrival caused the fractures. They are released after the Order's leader determines that both men are connected to the Nexus and may be able to survive direct exposure to its energy.

The group travels to several locations targeted by the Legion, including the Nether, the End, and the abandoned kingdom of Ardonia. During their journey, Wade and Logan repeatedly clash over their methods. Wade treats the conflict as another opportunity to become a celebrated hero, while Logan believes that the destruction of his world makes him responsible for preventing the same fate from befalling others. They eventually discover that Herobrine has already obtained most of the Nexus fragments and has deliberately allowed the Order to follow him. The energy carried by Wade and Logan is revealed to be the final component needed to activate the artifact.

Herobrine attacks the Order's headquarters and captures Logan, intending to use his regenerative abilities to stabilize the Nexus. Wade leads an assault on the Legion's fortress while the Order attempts to evacuate the remaining settlements from the Overworld. Logan escapes captivity and confronts Herobrine, but is overpowered after the latter absorbs energy from the completed Nexus. Wade reaches the artifact and attempts to destroy it, only to discover that doing so would erase every universe connected to it.

Herobrine activates the Nexus, causing portions of several realities to merge with the Overworld. Although Wade and Logan temporarily interrupt the process, they are unable to reverse the damage. The sky fractures above the Overworld as cities, landscapes, and beings from other universes begin appearing across the planet. Herobrine declares that the age of separate worlds has ended before entering the dimensional rift with the Legion.

In the aftermath, the Order determines that the merged reality will collapse unless the Nexus is separated before its energy reaches the core of the Overworld. Logan agrees to help Wade pursue Herobrine, while survivors from the displaced worlds begin assembling around them. The film ends as an enormous structure emerges from the rift and Herobrine prepares the Legion for an approaching war.

In a mid-credits scene, a surviving member of the Legion enters a chamber containing several imprisoned mutants and informs an unseen figure that Herobrine's invasion has begun. In a post-credits scene, Wade attempts to name the newly formed group, but Logan leaves before he can finish his suggestion.

Cast

• Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson / Deadpool: A wisecracking mercenary from another universe with accelerated healing abilities and an awareness of being a fictional character. Reynolds described Wade as initially viewing the conflict as an opportunity to join another major heroic team before gradually recognizing the consequences of Herobrine's plan. The film incorporates Wade's irreverent humor while placing the character within what Reynolds described as a more serious and destructive story.
• Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine: A mutant with regenerative abilities, enhanced senses, and an adamantium-laced skeleton and claws. This version of Logan originates from a universe that was destroyed before the events of the film. Jackman said the character was more emotionally isolated than his previous portrayals and is motivated by his belief that he failed to save his own world.

The film also features members of the Order, residents of the Overworld, the Legion of Herobrine, and characters displaced from other realities. Several performers appear in uncredited cameos as alternate versions of established characters from the Minecraft Cinematic Universe.

Production

Development

In July 2019, Mob Productions announced that it was developing multiple films based on Minecraft and the animated works released by Squared Media. The projects were intended to form an interconnected franchise known as the Minecraft Cinematic Universe. One of the films was described as a darker story centered on Herobrine, who had previously been referenced throughout the franchise but had not appeared in a leading role.

By early 2020, the studio had begun developing the project under the working title Herobrine. The original treatment followed the character's return to the Overworld and the formation of the Legion of Herobrine, a villainous team composed of characters loyal to him. Alex Brow developed the story with producer Jason Dale, while several writers contributed early versions of the screenplay. Mob Productions intended the film to act as the culmination of storylines introduced during the first phase of the MCCU.

Jackson Miller entered negotiations to direct the film in August 2020 and was confirmed that October. Miller considered the original screenplay too limited for what had been established as the franchise's largest event and proposed expanding the story beyond the Overworld. His revised treatment introduced the concept of multiple realities colliding and incorporated characters inspired by Marvel Comics' X-Men. Mob Productions reached an agreement to use the characters and concepts through its distribution partnership with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Ehren Kruger was hired to write a new screenplay in February 2021, with Freddie Goodwin joining later that year. Miller and Brow received story credit. The film was subsequently retitled World of X, referencing both the merging worlds depicted in the story and the involvement of the X-Men characters. Miller described the film as being structured around the collision of two different kinds of superhero storytelling: the fantasy-based world of the MCCU and the character-driven mutant stories associated with the X-Men.

By mid-2022, the screenplay had grown considerably, with a planned runtime exceeding four hours. Mob Productions considered reducing the number of characters but ultimately chose to divide the story into two films. The first film was officially titled World of X – Part One, while the second became World of X – Part Two. The films were not filmed entirely back-to-back, although several sequences intended for the sequel were shot during production on the first film.

The studio announced the film's $230 million production budget in 2023. Miller said the budget was primarily allocated to constructing physical environments, developing the film's computer-generated worlds, and producing the large-scale dimensional collision sequences.

Casting

Ryan Reynolds entered discussions to appear as Wade Wilson / Deadpool in March 2021. His casting was announced in September 2021 alongside confirmation that the film would include characters from the X-Men franchise. Reynolds was also involved in revising Wade's dialogue, although he did not receive a screenplay credit.

Miller approached Hugh Jackman about portraying Logan / Wolverine during early development. Jackman had previously stated that he had retired from the role, but agreed to return after being shown the film's treatment and its explanation that this Logan was a different version of the character. Jackman's casting was kept secret during the early stages of production and was officially announced in December 2022.

Reynolds and Jackman trained together before filming, with Jackman undertaking a physical training and dietary program to regain the character's muscular appearance. Miller said the emotional conflict between Wade and Logan became the central relationship of the film, despite the larger ensemble and scale of the story.

Additional cast members were signed throughout 2022 and 2023. Mob Productions avoided revealing many of their roles before release because several played returning characters or alternate versions of characters from previous MCCU films. The studio also denied reports of several cameo appearances that were later confirmed when the film was released.

Filming

Principal photography began on March 13, 2023, at Mob Productions Studios under the working title Nexus. Filming took place on soundstages and constructed sets representing the Overworld, Nether, End, and the Legion's fortress. Location filming also occurred in Iceland, Scotland, and Australia, which were used for several of the film's larger exterior environments.

Mira Silverleaf served as cinematographer. Miller sought to distinguish the different realities through camera movement, lighting, and aspect ratio rather than relying exclusively on visual effects. Scenes set in the Overworld used wider compositions and brighter natural lighting, while Logan's universe was photographed with harsher shadows and less saturated environments. The visual style gradually becomes less consistent as the worlds begin merging.

Production was temporarily suspended in July 2023 because of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Filming resumed following the conclusion of the strike and wrapped on November 29. Additional photography began in February 2024 and continued intermittently through June. The reshoots expanded Wade and Logan's scenes together, clarified Herobrine's plan, and altered the film's ending to provide a more direct transition into Part Two.

The film was shot simultaneously with several scenes intended for the sequel, including material involving the fractured Overworld and the arrival of characters from other universes. Miller denied that the productions were fully back-to-back, explaining that the majority of Part Two would be filmed separately.

Post-production

Jordan Hayes and Michael P. Shawver edited the film. An early assembly reportedly exceeded four hours, while Miller's first completed cut ran approximately three hours and 20 minutes. The theatrical version was reduced to 168 minutes. Miller said most of the removed material involved supporting characters and the history of the Legion rather than major changes to the story.

The visual effects were produced by several companies under the supervision of Daniel Costa. More than 2,400 visual effects shots were completed for the film. The effects teams developed realistic interpretations of Minecraft blocks, creatures, environments, and movement while retaining the recognizable geometry of the source material. The dimensional collision sequence required individual digital environments to be created before being combined into a single changing landscape.

The film was completed in March 2025. Miller stated that post-production on Part One overlapped with pre-production on Part Two and that the final version included several visual and narrative elements designed to become more significant in the sequel.

Music

Weston Doyle composed the film's score, having previously worked on other Minecraft Cinematic Universe projects. Doyle combined an orchestra, electronic music, distorted choral vocals, and sounds derived from instruments and effects used in Minecraft. Separate themes were created for Wade, Logan, Herobrine, and the Nexus.

The soundtrack album was released digitally alongside the film in June 2025. Several licensed songs are also featured, primarily during scenes involving Wade Wilson.

Marketing

The film was officially announced during Mob Productions' presentation in December 2022, where Reynolds and Jackman appeared in a prerecorded video confirming their involvement. The presentation concluded with the title reveal and a June 2025 release date.

The first teaser trailer was released in July 2024. It focused on the disappearance of locations throughout the Overworld and ended with the first footage of Wade and Logan together. The teaser generated significant online attention because of Jackman's return as Wolverine and the crossover between the X-Men characters and the Minecraft Cinematic Universe.

A full trailer was released in February 2025 and revealed Herobrine, the Legion, and the merging of multiple realities. The final trailer was released in May. Disney and Mob Productions conducted an extensive global marketing campaign involving television advertisements, online promotions, video game collaborations, merchandise, and interactive displays based on the Nexus.

The theatrical poster depicted Wade and Logan standing before a fractured portal containing several Minecraft environments, with Herobrine positioned above them. Marketing deliberately concealed most of the film's supporting cast and several locations featured in the second half of the film.

Release

Theatrical

World of X – Part One premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on June 2, 2025. It was released theatrically in the United States on June 9 by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, including IMAX, Dolby Cinema, 4DX, and other premium formats.

The film was originally expected to be released in late 2024 but was delayed because of the 2023 labor disputes, the length of post-production, and the number of visual effects required. It was released in several international markets beginning June 6, 2025.

Home media

The film was released for digital download on August 19, 2025, followed by Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD releases on September 9. The home media editions included deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes documentaries, an audio commentary by Miller, and a feature about the creation of the merged worlds.

World of X – Part One became available on the company's streaming service in October 2025. An extended version was not released, although Miller said several deleted scenes could be incorporated into future projects.

Reception

Box office

World of X – Part One grossed $486.7 million in the United States and Canada and $649.3 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $1.136 billion. It became the first Minecraft Cinematic Universe film to gross more than $1 billion, the highest-grossing installment of the franchise, and one of the highest-grossing films released in 2025.

In the United States and Canada, the film was projected to gross between $170 million and $200 million from 4,400 theaters during its opening weekend. It earned $88.4 million on its first day, including $34.2 million from preview screenings. The film debuted with $205.6 million, giving the MCCU its largest domestic opening at the time.

The film remained in first place during its second weekend and crossed $500 million worldwide within its first week. Strong audience interest in Reynolds and Jackman's return, positive word of mouth, repeat viewings, and premium-format screenings were cited as contributing factors to its performance.

Critical response

The film received generally positive reviews from critics. Reviewers praised Reynolds and Jackman's chemistry, Miller's handling of the large ensemble, the visual effects, action sequences, and the film's unexpectedly serious treatment of the destruction caused by Herobrine. The performances of Reynolds and Jackman were frequently identified as the emotional center of the film.

Criticism focused on the film's 168-minute runtime, the amount of mythology and exposition introduced, and its dependence on prior Minecraft Cinematic Universe installments. Several critics considered the conclusion unsatisfying as a standalone ending because the main conflict is left unresolved for Part Two. Others argued that the cliffhanger was effective and compared the structure to the first half of a large-scale comic-book crossover event.

The visual effects received particular praise for maintaining the recognizable block-based appearance of Minecraft without making the environments appear weightless or artificial. Herobrine's design and the final reality-merging sequence were also highlighted.

Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while those surveyed by PostTrak gave it a positive score of 91 percent.

Accolades

The film received nominations for its visual effects, sound, production design, stunt coordination, and musical score. Reynolds and Jackman also received several nominations for their performances and on-screen partnership.

Sequel

Main article: World of X – Part Two

World of X – Part Two was confirmed alongside the decision to divide the original story into two films. Jackson Miller returned as director, with Ehren Kruger and Freddie Goodwin again writing the screenplay. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman reprise their roles as Wade Wilson / Deadpool and Logan / Wolverine, respectively.

Development on the sequel occurred concurrently with post-production on Part One. Several sequences were filmed during principal photography on the first film, although production on the majority of the sequel began separately. Miller described Part Two as a war film that would explore the consequences of the realities merging and conclude the story of Herobrine, the Nexus, and the Legion.

World of X – Part Two is scheduled to be released in November 2026.