Draft:Agent Derp (MIU film)

Agent Derp
Directed by	Jackson Gold
Screenplay by	Freddie Goodwin
Story by	Jackson Gold Alex Brow Freddie Goodwin
Based on	Minecraft by Mojang Studios
Produced by	Alex Brow Lena Cross Jackson Gold
Starring	Scott Menville
Production companies	Mob Studios Mob Productions Mojang Studios
Release date	May 16, 2031 (2031-05-16)
Country	United States
Language	English

Agent Derp is an upcoming American computer-animated spy comedy adventure film based on the Minecraft video game developed by Mojang Studios. Produced by Mob Studios, Mob Productions, and Mojang Studios, it is intended to be the fourth film in the Minecraft Universe (MIU) and the fourth theatrical installment of "Chapter One: The Broken Seed". The film is directed by Jackson Gold from a screenplay by Freddie Goodwin and a story developed by Gold, Goodwin, and Alex Brow. Scott Menville stars as Derp, reprising the role he previously portrayed in the Minecraft Cinematic Universe (MCCU) while playing a completely reimagined version of the character.

The film follows an ordinary and accident-prone resident of the Overworld who intercepts a message intended for an underground intelligence organization and is mistakenly identified as one of its highly trained operatives. Although initially unprepared for the assignment placed before him, Derp gradually proves more capable than the organization and its enemies expect.

Reports that Mob Studios was exploring a new Agent Derp film emerged in August 2026. The project entered active development that October, when Gold was announced as director and Goodwin as screenwriter. It was initially described as a standalone MIU project outside "The Broken Seed", but was formally added to the chapter in November 2026 and scheduled for release on May 16, 2031.

Mob Studios originally intended to recast Derp as part of the rebooted continuity. Menville subsequently contacted the studio and submitted a new audition after explaining his personal attachment to the character. His return was announced in December 2026. Goodwin completed the first screenplay draft by July 2027, when Menville participated in his first formal character workshop with Gold and the film's first title treatment was publicly revealed.

Agent Derp is scheduled to be released in the United States on May 16, 2031.

Premise

An ordinary and accident-prone resident of the Overworld intercepts a coded message intended for a secret intelligence organization. After being mistaken for a highly trained operative whose identity has been concealed, Derp is drawn into an assignment for which he has no formal experience.

As the organization continues to overestimate his abilities, Derp attempts to maintain the identity assigned to him while uncovering the purpose of the intercepted message. His unconventional decisions and apparent mistakes gradually reveal that he is more resourceful and capable than either his allies or enemies initially believe.

Voice cast

• Scott Menville as Derp, an ordinary Overworld resident who is mistaken for a trained intelligence operative after intercepting a secret message. Menville previously voiced a different incarnation of Derp in the Minecraft Cinematic Universe. The MIU version does not retain the earlier character's history, relationships, or connection to Steve Stonecutter.

No additional cast members have been announced.

Production

Background

The title Agent Derp was previously used for a 2021 animated film forming part of the Minecraft Cinematic Universe. The earlier film starred Scott Menville as Derp and depicted the character as an associate of Steve Stonecutter. That continuity continued through World of X – Part One (2025), while its planned sequel, World of X – Part Two, was abandoned before entering full production.

The Minecraft Universe was subsequently developed as a complete reboot that did not retain the MCCU's continuity, character histories, visual designs, or mythology. Mob Studios initially intended for all principal roles to be recast, though it did not prohibit performers from the earlier continuity from being considered for new interpretations.

Reports that the studio was exploring a new film titled Agent Derp emerged in August 2026, shortly after the first Minecraft Universe slate was announced. At the time, the project had no director, writer, cast, release date, or confirmed position within the franchise.

Development

On October 27, 2026, Mob Studios confirmed that Agent Derp had entered active development. Jackson Gold was announced as director and producer, with Freddie Goodwin writing the screenplay from a story developed with Gold and Alex Brow. Brow, Lena Cross, and Gold serve as producers.

The studio described the film as an animated spy comedy and adventure. The story follows a seemingly ordinary and accident-prone resident of the Overworld who intercepts a message intended for an underground intelligence organization and is subsequently mistaken for one of its operatives.

Gold said the film would use Derp's mistakes and misunderstandings as sources of comedy without portraying him as entirely incompetent. Although some of his early successes appear accidental, the story is intended to reveal that Derp possesses unusual instincts, adaptability, and observational skills that do not resemble the organization's conventional training.

The film was initially announced as a largely standalone MIU story outside "Chapter One: The Broken Seed". Brow said its narrative could occur alongside the chapter without directly contributing to the conflict involving the Seed and the Hollow King.

Mob Studios reversed that position in November 2026 and formally added Agent Derp to "The Broken Seed". The film was scheduled for May 16, 2031, placing it between The Ender Crown (2030) and Minecraft: The Broken Seed (2031). The studio said its inclusion would allow the film to depict the condition of the Overworld during the chapter without requiring its central spy story to become a direct continuation of the other installments.

Brow said the film's placement did not confirm that Derp would appear in Minecraft: The Broken Seed. Gold similarly described the project as a complete central narrative rather than an extended introduction for another film.

Goodwin completed the first full screenplay draft by July 2027. Gold said the draft retained the mistaken-identity premise while depicting Derp as increasingly capable as the story progressed. The film remained in active development, with additional rewrites expected before production.

Principal animation is tentatively expected to begin in 2029. Mob Studios has not announced the film's animation supervisor, composer, supporting cast, or production partners.

Writing

Goodwin developed the story with Gold and Brow while continuing his work on other Minecraft Universe projects, including Minecraft: The First Night and Minecraft: The Broken Seed. The filmmakers selected the spy genre to distinguish Agent Derp from the survival, dimensional fantasy, and disaster stories comprising the rest of "The Broken Seed".

The screenplay centers on a secret intelligence organization operating through concealed routes and bases across the Overworld. Derp becomes involved after receiving a message intended for an operative whose identity is unknown to most members of the organization. His possession of the message and ability to survive the circumstances surrounding it lead the organization to incorrectly assume that he is the intended recipient.

Gold said the story would draw comedy from Derp attempting to satisfy expectations that he does not fully understand. Rather than succeeding only through luck, he gradually develops his own methods of infiltration, investigation, disguise, and improvisation. These methods frequently appear disorganized but allow him to notice possibilities overlooked by formally trained characters.

The new Derp does not share the MCCU character's relationship with Steve Stonecutter or participate in the events of the 2021 film. The filmmakers retained the character's optimism, physical comedy, and tendency to misunderstand situations while giving him a more independent identity within the rebooted continuity.

The film's addition to "The Broken Seed" resulted in minor revisions concerning the state of the Overworld. Cross said the connections would emerge through environmental and political consequences from earlier projects rather than direct appearances by the chapter's principal characters.

Mob Studios has not revealed the intelligence organization's name, Derp's assignment, the identity of the antagonist, the film's primary setting, or its specific relationship to the Seed's instability.

Casting

Mob Studios began searching for a new performer to voice Derp before the film entered active development. The studio initially did not expect Scott Menville to return because the MIU had been established as a complete continuity reboot.

After learning that the role would be recast, Menville contacted Gold, Brow, and the film's casting team. He submitted a new voice test and a written proposal describing how his performance could be separated from the earlier interpretation. Menville said he had a strong personal attachment to Derp and wanted to create a substantially different version rather than reproduce his MCCU performance.

The audition used a more restrained vocal delivery while retaining elements of Derp's comedic timing. Gold said Menville demonstrated that an actor could return without restoring the previous character's continuity or history. Mob Studios offered him the role in late November 2026 and publicly announced his casting on December 14.

Brow said Menville's return was based on his enthusiasm for the character and the strength of his new interpretation rather than nostalgia for the MCCU. His casting made him the first principal performer from the previous continuity confirmed to portray a character in the MIU.

Menville participated in his first formal character workshop with Gold and Goodwin in July 2027. The sessions focused on distinguishing the new Derp's voice, physical rhythm, emotional range, and comedic delivery from the earlier incarnation. Gold said the new performance would be less exaggerated while allowing Derp's confidence and capability to develop over the course of the film.

Preliminary recording is expected to begin before principal animation. No supporting performers have been announced.

Animation and design

Agent Derp will use the stylized computer-animation approach developed for the Minecraft Universe. The film will retain the block-based geometry and construction rules established by Minecraft: The First Night while developing a distinct visual identity based on spy cinema and covert organizations.

Early visual development has reportedly focused on concealed entrances, underground transportation systems, improvised gadgets, hidden bases, disguises, coded maps, and equipment constructed from recognizable Overworld materials. Mob Studios has not publicly released concept artwork from the film.

Derp's design will differ from his appearance in the Minecraft Cinematic Universe. Gold said the character should initially appear to be an ordinary Overworld resident who has assembled the appearance of an operative from equipment that was not intended for him. His clothing and tools are expected to become more functional as the story progresses.

The film's title treatment was revealed during Mob Studios' Minecraft Universe anniversary presentation on July 31, 2027. No character artwork or animated footage accompanied the title.

Marketing

Mob Studios publicly confirmed Agent Derp on October 27, 2026, when it announced that the film had entered active development. The announcement revealed its director, screenwriter, producers, genre, and central premise, but did not include a logo, concept artwork, or cast information.

Menville's casting was announced on December 14, 2026. The studio emphasized that his return did not connect the MIU to the previous continuity and described his character as a complete reinterpretation.

The first title treatment was unveiled during Mob Studios' Minecraft Universe anniversary presentation on July 31, 2027. The design was shown without character artwork, footage, or additional cast announcements. Mob Studios did not classify the presentation as the beginning of the film's full marketing campaign.

Release

Agent Derp is scheduled to be released theatrically in the United States on May 16, 2031. It is positioned between The Ender Crown, scheduled for July 18, 2030, and Minecraft: The Broken Seed, scheduled for December 12, 2031.

The film was initially developed without a release year. Its release date was announced in November 2026 when Mob Studios formally added it to "Chapter One: The Broken Seed".

Future

Agent Derp forms part of "Chapter One: The Broken Seed", though Mob Studios has described it as a largely standalone installment within the chapter. The studio has not confirmed whether Derp or the intelligence organization introduced in the film will appear in later Minecraft Universe projects.

Brow said the film's position before Minecraft: The Broken Seed should not be interpreted as confirmation that Derp will join the principal characters in the chapter's conclusion.