Steve x Alex: The Dark Dynasty
| Steve x Alex: The Dark Dynasty | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Shawn Levy Freddie Goodwin |
| Based on | Minecraft by Mojang |
| Produced by | Freddie Goodwin Mob Productions |
| Starring | |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
Release date |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Steve & Alex: Guardians of the Overworld (also known as Alex and Steve – episode one) is an upcoming animated superhero film being directed by Shawn Levy and written by Levy and Freddie Goodwin. Produced by Mob Productions and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the first installment in the Steve & Alex franchise, following the previous series. It is the first episode of the series. The film features Grant Gustin and Amy Poehler as Steve Stonecutter and Alex Stonecutter, respectively. Guardians of the Overworld follows Steve and Alex as they hunt down a army of hostile monsters who began destroying Diamond Hill Village and find hints at a greater force in play.
Guardians of the Overworld is part of a new series of films announced after the conclusion of development of Minecraft Two. It was produced by Mob Productions and Freddie Goodwin, who also wrote the screenplay alongside Levy. The film is set to be based in Diamond Hill Village and feature scenes set before any film before it. The film will finally touch base on how Steve and Alex originally met each other. Filming began in June 2019 and concluded in March 2020. However, the film was delayed two years because of poor quality and deemed unreleasable by Disney.
Guardians of the Overworld is scheduled to be released on April 19, 2026.
Premise
Steve and Alex must hunt down an army of hostile monsters who began destroying Diamond Hill Village and find hints at a greater force in play.
Cast
Currently, two or more roles have been casted but aren't yet announced.
Production
Development
In March 2017, Goodwin was in talks with Disney about making a new series of films and decided to make them feel like the Star Wars' Skywalker Saga; with the episode numbering of each film. By June 2017, Disney greenlit the first two films and had Guardians of the Overworld begin development in 2018. Goodwin worked with Shawn Levy in previous films Minecraft One (2023), though the latter departed the project. Goodwin approached him and asked to work with him on Guardians of the Overworld to which he agreed to join the project. In September 2017, multiple reports stated the film would feature two Steve characters and be set decades before any film before it. In February 2018, Levy hinted at a film set in the 1800s.
Goodwin and Levy pubically announced in May 2018 that Grant Gustin and Amy Poehler would reprise their roles in the film and they hoped for a 2024 release. In June 2019, Gustin mistakenly confirmed he had already finished half of his lines and revealed the title to be "Steve & Alex: Guardians of the Overworld". By September 2019, leaks reported that Jenna Ortega and Owen Wilson were set to reprise their roles, but Goodwin pubically debunked the rumors.
Shortly after the filming process was complete, Disney delayed the film until 2026 and ordered a remake of multiple scenes in order to make it releasable as the film was at that stage deemed "unreleasable".
Pre-production
After completing work on the previous film, Goodwin approached Gustin and Disney on making future films and prepared to make a film to conclude the storyline completely. Gustin liked the idea, while Disney disliked it due to the potential of grossing more money in future installments. Goodwin expressed a desire to change up the films completely to make films that aren't interconnected, allowing him to produce better films. Disney agreed and greenlit the second film to conclude the storyline.
In June 2038, Goodwin began to work with Gustin to produce the film and intended Gustin to produce future films as well. Goodwin wanted to adapt aspects of Minecraft: Block Wars (2019) into the film, while Gustin, who produced the film, wanted to adapt the Nether War storyline from the novels. Gustin hinted at the Ender Dragon appearing in the film and Goodwin later confirmed it the following month.
In August 2038, Goodwin had revealed that Doherty would be cast as Entity 303. He previously portrayed Jackster in Minecraft One (2035). Goodwin pubically confirmed that Entity 303 would be the films lead villain whilst Herobrine would also appear in the film, however will be voiced by Manu Bennett.
Throughout September 2038, Goodwin began adjusting scenes to allow Bennett to portray Herobrine as best as he can without needing to compete with Jones from the previous five films. Gustin began working with Ryan Reynolds to adapt multiple comedy driven storylines into the film, after seeing Deadpool and Wolverine and his other films. Reynolds agreed to work on the film as long as his name wasn't credited as a producer.
Casting
Manu Bennett replaces James Earl Jones as Herobrine in the film. Reprising their roles from previous films, Grant Gustin as Steve Stonecutter, Amy Poehler as Alex Stonecutter, and Scott Menville as Derp, respectively. Matt Doherty returns in the film as Entity 303.
Filming
Principal photography for Minecraft Two commenced on May 22, 2038, in London and at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England, under the working title "Tidal Wave." George Richmond, who had collaborated with Goodwin and Gustin on previous projects, took on the role of cinematographer. Gustin had advocated for shooting in Vancouver, his hometown and the location for earlier films in the series, but ultimately acquiesced to the production infrastructure already in place. Despite concerns, the 2032 Writers Guild of America strike did not affect filming, aside from Gustin's limited involvement in scriptwriting during the strike, a deviation from his previous hands-on approach. The production planned to proceed with principal photography and address any script changes during scheduled reshoots. Goodwin managed to balance directing duties with his role on the Netflix series Stranger Things, thanks to collaborative scheduling with Marvel Studios and the Stranger Things creative team.
In June 2032, the release date was unexpectedly moved up to May 3, 2033. A significant car crash scene was filmed in London in early July. Jennifer Garner's involvement as a character reminiscent of Elektra, which she had previously portrayed, was speculated but then denied by Garner herself. Filming also took place in Norfolk and at Bovingdon Film Studios, with a preference for on-location shoots to enhance the film's realism, including a scene featuring a giant 20th Century Fox logo. However, production halted on July 14 due to the 2032 SAG-AFTRA strike, with half of the planned 70 days of principal photography completed. The production team, led by Goodwin and Gustin, used this intermission to edit footage and start on visual effects, despite not having filmed major sequences intended for visual effects. Prior to the strike, certain actors had finished their scenes, including a pivotal sequence that Goodwin likened to iconic battles from classic films, influencing the film's action choreography.
Speculation about the cast continued, with Goodwin confirming some rumors but debunking others, such as the rumored cameo by Taylor Swift. Disney ensured the preservation of the film's sets during the strike, underlining its commitment to the project. The strikes cast uncertainty on the original release timeline, with discussions about potential delays and the film's title still in flux, reflecting the dynamic nature of the production process.
Following the strike's resolution, filming was poised to restart in London, with new elements such as the inclusion of a character akin to Dogpool, portrayed by a canine actor, adding unique touches to the narrative. Set photos leaked in December sparked discussions about the appearance of characters similar to Sabretooth and Toad, leading Gustin to address the challenges of managing leaks and attempting to maintain the film's surprise elements. The production's engagement with leaks even extended to playful social media strategies involving faux leaked images.
As the production wrapped in January 2034, it was clear that Minecraft One aimed to blend elements from its storied franchise with fresh, innovative approaches to storytelling and character development, mirroring the ambitious crossover strategies seen in successful franchises like Spider-Man: No Way Home. This approach promised a rich, multifaceted narrative that would both honor and expand upon the Minecraft universe.
Release
Minecraft Two was released in the United States on June 10, 2042, as part of the MCCU.