Jack Black Crafts Mansion on Private 'Minecraft' Film Set

The Minecraft Movie is now in theaters, and the filmmaking team revealed they created their own private Minecraft server accessible to the entire cast and crew to ensure the movie felt as authentic as possible. In a particularly memorable effort, Jack Black was determined to prove himself as a "real Minecrafter" and constructed an enormous mansion atop the highest mountain—complete with an art gallery.

Having immediate access to Minecraft was invaluable during the production of The Minecraft Movie. Producer Torfi Frans Ólafsson explained to IGN that it created an atmosphere reminiscent of "an indie game studio, buzzing with creative energy and ideas flowing freely." While they couldn't incorporate every single idea because "the train had already left the station," the server allowed them to "add a special sparkle" to the film and remain faithful to the spirit of the game.

Director Jared Hess noted that Jack Black, who plays Steve in the film, fully immersed himself in Minecraft, eager to show he could compete with the best players.

"It was so much fun," Hess shared. "Jack had this wonderfully methodical approach to the game. He’d be in his trailer mining lapis lazuli and constantly building. He was genuinely fascinated by the game and would return with new ideas. It became an organic process where everyone was contributing in their own creative and unique ways."

"I had an Xbox in my trailer, and I played regularly because *an actor prepares*," Jack Black added with a smile. "I logged as many hours as possible on this Minecraft server, which was filled with props from every department.

"People on the server were building these incredible structures, and I wanted to make my mark. I wanted everyone to know that I was *a real Minecrafter*, so I decided to find the tallest mountain in the world and build a stairway to Steve, along with a mansion at the summit. I even included a basement with an art gallery. I’m not even sure if it’s still standing!"

The Minecraft Movie Gallery

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"It’s still there!" Ólafsson confirmed. "I kept the server running and extended it for another year. I logged in a few days ago and was surprised to see someone else online. It turned out to be two security guards who worked the set gate. They greeted me, and when I asked if they were still playing, they said, 'Oh, yes!'"

While it's uncertain whether audiences will ever get a glimpse of Jack Black's 'Real Minecrafter' Mansion, it’s always fascinating to learn about the behind-the-scenes magic of filmmaking and how the creators brought this beloved game to the big screen.

For more details, read our review of The Minecraft Movie, our breakdown of the film's ending and post-credits scene, and explore how it achieved the biggest domestic box office opening weekend for a video game adaptation in history.