It's a big month for Mario. September marks 35 years since the release of Super Mario Bros.
To the surprise of nobody, Nintendo is doing a few notable things to celebrate. The biggest is the release of Super Mario 3D All-Stars, a compilation of Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy. This marks the first time these classics are playable on Nintendo's current hardware. As Nintendo's flagship series, Super Mario rarely stays out of the spotlight for long, and in the near future, the franchise is getting a second shot at the Hollywood treatment.
Nintendo announced its partnership with Illumination in 2018 to make an animated film based on Super Mario Bros. It was a surprise back then, because Nintendo didn't seem to dabble in media outside video games, especially after the disastrous 1993 Super Mario Bros. film. Updates have been scarce, but Nintendo did say earlier this year the film was being planned for release in 2022. That appears to still be the case.
This week, Nintendo had its Corporate Management Policy Briefing, hosted by company president Shuntaro Furukawa. In the briefing, the company went over a number of subjects, such as philosophy, its online service subscribers, and future initiatives. One big subject touched upon was the animated Super Mario movie. According to Furukawa, the film is scheduled for a 2022 theatrical release, and "production is moving ahead smoothly." However, arguably bigger is the fact Nintendo is working on other "visual content expansion projects."
"We have also already embarked on multiple other visual content expansion projects, and are pursuing further opportunities," said Furukawa. "As we shared previously, the Super Mario movie is being financed by Nintendo as well as Universal Pictures, and we are actively involved in planning, development and production. Going forward, visual content expansion initiatives may not be limited to film. The scale of our investments will vary based o the type of project, but we will continue to invest in these entertainment expansion initiatives to increase the number of people who have access to our IP."
Nintendo going full force into visual media is definitely something to take note of. The fact that Furukawa says it may not just be films could imply the possibility of television shows. Fans certainly wouldn't be averse to a big-budget Legend of Zelda epic on HBO, as previous rumors of a Netflix series set the internet ablaze. This is where speculation comes in, though, as we have no idea what else Nintendo wants to offer up for adaptation. It appears the dream of something like a Metroid movie appears closer to reality than ever before. It's going to be an exciting decade.
There's still the question of how well the Super Mario film will be received. It's easy to be hesitant with Illumination at the helm, considering the company specializes in humor aimed at young audiences. However, it is encouraging Nintendo is actively involved in the development process. If the film can capture the whimsical world of the Mushroom Kingdom, it should be a treat to see on the big screen.
Source: Nintendo