There’s New Minecraft AND Emoji Movies In The Works, For Some Reason

While most movie news outlets are preoccupied with the tantalising prospect of a fresh trailer for James Bond’s upcoming Spectre sometime later today, there have been some bizarre developments from big names bubbling just out of sight.

First of all, Rob McElhenney has signed up to direct the Minecraft movie. Yep, Mac from It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia is helming a movie based on a massively successful Swedish video game.

Hey @Mojang let’s do something strange and wonderful.

— Rob McElhenney (@RMcElhenney) July 21, 2015

There are no solid details about the film as yet, but it’s interesting to note the massive gulf between the game’s family-friendly content and McElhenney’s foul-mouthed resume. The project will almost certainly require him to hang up his well-earned R-rated director’s cap in favour of a controversy-free, family-friendly fedora. At the very least, the project promises a bizarre collection of people showing up on opening night, including both young families and fans of the concept of rum ham.

Also breaking news in this bizarro reality: Sony has shelled out big for an emoji movie. Apparently drawn by the lack of copyright on the completely inconsequential and artless yellow symbols, both Warner Bros. and Paramount were also reportedly part of a bidding war for the project.

According to Deadline, that war cost Sony a ridiculous “near seven figures.” Reportedly, the purchase was part of a studio chief’s directive to “move aggressively” on the project, which makes the heads of multi-billion dollar film studios sound like intolerable children battling over the last cookie.

The idea was pitched by director Anthony Leondis and writer Eric Siegel, who pulled out some storyboards in an effort to woo the studios. While we all ponder what could have possibly been on those boards, it’s worth noting that Leondis’ body of work totals the film Igor (yeah, we had to look it up, too), perhaps pointing towards some kind of animated film? You know, rather than a film in which human beings actually create emojis with their faces. Which we would also probably watch.