Who Is Steve? Jack Black’s Minecraft Character, Explained

Steve has established himself as an iconic character in the history of video games, standing alongside other legends such as Mario, Link, and Sonic. He made his first appearance in the Java-based version of Minecraft in 2009 and has since become the face of the franchise. Despite his immense popularity, not much is known about Steve, which makes him a fascinating character for a movie adaptation. So who exactly is Steve? With Jack Black set to play him in the upcoming Minecraft movie, we will give you all the character details below.

Who Is Steve in Minecraft?

Steve is one of two default playable characters in Minecraft, the other being Alex. According to a popular theory, Steve is one of the last surviving humans after a deadly virus wiped out most of the population and turned the rest into bloodthirsty monsters, such as zombies, husks, and skeletons. Meaning it’s up to Steve to save the world.

Here are Steve’s stats:

• Height: 6-Feet
• Sneak Speed: 2.9 mph
• Walk Speed: 9.6 mph
• Run Speed: 12.6 mph
• Jump Height: 1.25 blocks

Steve was initially referred to as “Mr. Minecraft.” However, he was later renamed to “Steve” after appearing in the game Super Meat Boy. When the creator of Minecraft, Markus Persson (also known as Notch), was asked what the character’s name was, he jokingly replied with “Steve.” The name has since stuck.

Steve has also appeared as a playable character in other games, such as Retro City Rampage and Super Smash Bros, as well as a cameo in Borderlands 2 and Saints Row. Beyond games, he has been featured in Minecraft YouTube animation series like Element Animation and fan-created content such as Annoying Villagers by MrFudgeMonkeyz.

Minecraft Movie Release Date, Cast, and More

Warner Bros. Pictures will release the Minecraft movie on April 4, 2025. The official synopsis is as follows:

The evil Ender Dragon embarks on a destructive mission, prompting a young girl and her team of unlikely heroes to embark on a quest to save the Overworld. Chris Bown, Hubbel Palmer, and Allison Schroeder wrote the screenplay, and Jared Hess, who previously directed Jack Black in Nacho Libre, will direct the movie.

In addition to Jack Black, the Minecraft movie will have an all-star cast (though most of their roles are yet unknown): 

• Jack Black as Steve
• Jason Momoa
• Jennifer Coolidge
• Kate McKinnon
• Emma Myers
• Jemaine Clement
• Danielle Brooks as Dawn
• Sebastian Eugen Hansen as Henry

According to the Instagram post below, Black has seemingly confirmed that he will play Steve in the upcoming Minecraft movie. The video starts with Black singing a cheerful version of the “Double Rainbow” song while filming a colorful rainbow in the sky. He then tours the trailer’s interior, which belongs to Steve from the Minecraft movie, and shows off images of the franchise’s blocky lead character. The video then ends with Black making an appearance.

Now that you know who Jack Black’s character, Steve, is in Minecraft, you’ll be ready for what should be a fun experience based on Black’s previous performances of animated characters, including fellow video game legend Bowser. Until then, check out our Minecraft hub for more guides to enhance your gameplay.