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‘Minecraft’ movie digs up a new director in Rob McElhenney

Rob McElhenney has been tapped to direct Warner Bros.' "Minecraft" movie."

Rob McElhenney has been tapped to direct Warner Bros.’ “Minecraft” movie.”

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
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The forecast for Warner Bros.’ “Minecraft” movie is looking a bit brighter as “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” co-creator and star Rob McElhenney has come aboard to direct the big-screen adaptation of the popular online video game.

Game developer Mojang announced McElhenney as director Tuesday, and he confirmed the news with a tweet that said: “Hey @Mojang let’s do something strange and wonderful.”

McElhenney does not have an extensive directing resume, but he did helm three episodes of “Sunny,” the irreverent FX sitcom he dreamed up as a struggling actor. He’s also developing a family action-adventure movie called “Figment” with Legendary Pictures.

McElhenney will pick up the pieces on “Minecraft” after Shawn Levy (“Night at the Museum,” “Real Steel”) departed the project last year.

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Details of the film’s plot have yet to emerge, other than that it will be inspired by the lo-fi, open-ended computer game in which players create avatars, roam around, collect material, construct tools and edifices, and survive monsters and other perils. Warner Bros. previously scored a hit with a blocky, freewheeling adventure in 2014’s “The Lego Movie.”

Follow @ogettell on Twitter for movie news.

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