Minecraft, Insidious and Sonic the Hedgehog all receive new franchise installments
Minecraft: The Movie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
The popular video game franchise will receive a live-action film adaption from Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess. Starring Jason Momoa (Fast X, Dune) and Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us, The Mandalorian), the film will depict the malevolent Ender Dragon as he sets out on a path of destruction, prompting a young girl and her group of unlikely adventurers to set out to save the Overworld. The film will be written by Chris Bowman and Hubbel Palmer, who previously worked with Hess on the 2016 heist comedy film Masterminds. Filming is set to begin this August throughout New Zealand.
Thread: An Insidious Tale (Blumhouse)
Mandy Moore (Dr. Death) and Kumail Nanjiani (Welcome to Chippendales) are set to star in the sixth entry of the popular Insidious franchise for Blumhouse. According to press materials, “with the help of a mysterious stranger, Nick and Maddie, reeling from the loss of their daughter Zoe, journey into the terrifying realm known as the Further in a desperate attempt to change the past and save their family.” Jeremy Slater, who oversaw Moon Knight for Disney+ and The Umbrella Academy for Netflix, will make his film directorial debut from his own script. Filming will take place beginning August 31 in Winnipeg, Canada.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Paramount Pictures)
The iconic Sega character will return for a third live-action installment and will begin filming in London this August. Jeff Fowler will also return to the franchise for a third time with a script from Pat Casey and Josh Miller (Violent Night). Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Colleen O’Shaughnessey and Idris Elba will return, and a Knuckles spinoff film is also in development with Christopher Lloyd, Stockard Channing and Cary Elwes confirmed as cast members.
