Utahn that brought you ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ set to direct Minecraft film

The blocks are coming to Hollywood. Photo: Pixabay

SALT LAKE CITY – Jared Hess, a Brigham Young University graduate who resides in Salt Lake City, signed on to direct a film adaptation of the video game ‘Minecraft’ for Warner Bros., according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Minecraft is a sandbox video game available on many platforms that allows players to explore and create structures and worlds using blocks. The game went live in 2011 and quickly became a sensation, acquiring 100 million users in a few years.

It was developed by Mojang Studios, which was purchased by Microsoft for $2.5 billion in 2014.

Hess co-wrote Napoleon Dynamite with his wife Jerusha. Since its release in 2004, the film has become a cult classic.

More recently, Hess co-directed the Netflix documentary series Murder Among the Mormons alongside fellow Utahn Tyler Meason.

Hess’s portfolio also includes directing the Jack Black-led Nacho Libre.

Jason Mamoa, who starred in Aquaman and Dune, is also signed on for the Minecraft film.