Minecraft movie: Who will play General Chungus?

One of the biggest surprises—and hottest topics—coming out of The Minecraft Movie’s opening weekend has nothing to do with explosions or epic boss fights. Nope, it’s all about a mystery voice. Fans can’t stop talking about who voiced General Chungus, a character that’s already become a bit of a cult favorite.

General Chungus is a massive, intimidating mob boss who commands the Piglin army, a group of baddie creatures straight out of the Minecraft game. He shows up multiple times throughout the movie, towering over others with his brute strength and deep, commanding voice. But it’s not just his size that’s making waves—it’s the voice behind the character that’s got people digging for clues.

In the movie’s intense final showdown set in the fiery dimension known as the Nether, General Chungus ends up getting taken out by Malgosha, a wickedly powerful Piglin sorceress. Despite his tough-guy status, his dramatic defeat—and the mystery of who voiced him—has left audiences obsessed, sparking fan theories and Reddit deep dives all over the internet.

So here’s a fun little gem from The Minecraft Movie that fans are loving: the gruff, hulking Piglin captain General Chungus? Yeah, that deep, booming voice actually belongs to none other than the movie’s own director—Jared Hess.

Yup, in a classic filmmaker cameo move, Hess lent his voice to the Piglin boss as a little behind-the-scenes Easter egg. While the CGI Chungus stomps and snorts through the Nether with serious bad-guy energy, it’s the comedic filmmaker known for quirky cult classics that’s secretly doing the talking.

Jared Hess has been making people laugh since his breakout hit Napoleon Dynamite in 2004, which he co-wrote with his wife and longtime creative partner, Jerusha Hess. The film quickly made him a household name in indie comedy circles. He followed that success with another offbeat crowd-pleaser, Nacho Libre, starring Jack Black. Since then, he’s been quietly stacking a fun filmography, including Gentlemen Broncos, Masterminds, and Don Verdean.

But this Minecraft moment isn’t Jared’s first time jumping into his own projects—he’s dabbled in voice roles before, including in Napoleon Dynamite and Thelma the Unicorn.

What’s even cooler? His wife Jerusha has been his co-pilot for most of the journey. The two met at Brigham Young University while making student films, and they’ve been a creative duo ever since, co-writing almost all of his early movies. Jerusha even branched out to direct her own film, Austenland, in 2013.

In interviews, Jerusha has praised Jared’s warm and collaborative directing style—saying he leads with kindness and really brings out the best in his crew. She’s a bit more laid-back and encourages her actors to improvise, but both clearly love the process of storytelling together.

So next time you hear General Chungus bellowing orders in the Nether, just remember: behind that snarly Piglin mask is the voice of a man who gave the world Napoleon Dynamite. Pretty cool, right?

So, before A Minecraft Movie was even an idea floating around Hollywood, director Jared Hess already had a soft spot for the blocky world of Minecraft—and he has his kids to thank for that.

Long before stepping into the director’s chair, Hess was just a dad watching his elementary school-aged kids completely lose themselves in the game’s colorful, pixelated playground. He told Deadline that their wild enthusiasm pulled him in:

“They were in elementary school and just would have a riot playing the game… so I had to jump in and join the party.”

And once he did? He was hooked.

That early family connection turned into a full-blown appreciation for the creativity and wackiness Minecraft offers. So when the opportunity came up to pitch a Minecraft movie, Hess jumped at it. He saw it as the perfect blend of silly and smart—something that could really speak to the millions who grew up with the game.

“There was an immense audience that was so passionate about the game… The game itself is so creative, but it’s also ridiculous and really funny and absurd in so many ways.”

For Hess, it wasn’t just about bringing a video game to life—it was about honoring something that shaped an entire generation’s imagination. And also, judging by the way theater crowds are clapping, laughing, and cheering at The Minecraft Movie, it looks like his vision is really hitting home with fans of all ages.