Nintendo Working on More Movies Beyond Super Mario 2 and Zelda (But What Will They Be?)

Regardless of whether you’re humming “Peaches” or craving details about the upcoming live-action The Legend of Zelda film, one point is undeniable: Nintendo’s movie franchise is off to a promising beginning. Riding on the success of the Super Mario Bros. movie, fans of the gaming company have been anxiously awaiting news about other potential big-screen adaptations. After a recent Q&A session, it appears that additional Nintendo films may already be under development. If you were a fan of the Super Mario Bros movie, get ready for more excitement, as it seems there are potentially more Nintendo projects in the pipeline.

Over the last few years, followers of animated or cheerful films might have felt like they were on a bumpy journey. The continuous release of Marvel movies, much like a flurry of caffeinated beverages at a college study session, and Disney’s predominant focus on live-action remakes of past successes has left little room for new family-friendly choices. However, it’s heartening to see Nintendo stepping up to address this market gap by creating captivating new tales based on some of their most beloved franchises.

Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa Comments on New Visual Media

During a public Q&A session at an Annual General Meeting, Nintendo’s President Shuntaro Furukawa discussed potential directions for their visual media and content development. When asked about the expansion of their visual content business beyond the established IPs like Mario and The Legend of Zelda, the president hinted at the possibility of creating new visual content based on other Nintendo intellectual properties.

President Furukawa stated that they unveiled “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” in cinemas in April 2023, and it has received widespread acclaim globally. Moving forward, they intend to debut a fresh animated film set within the universe of “Super Mario Bros.” in April 2026, followed by a live-action adaptation of “The Legend of Zelda” in May 2027. With their strategic objective of widening the audience for Nintendo intellectual properties, they’ve been actively pursuing ventures outside our traditional gaming platforms for quite some time. One such area is visual content. Instead of just granting licenses to film production studios, we are taking a hands-on approach where Nintendo plays an active role in production and invests as required. This way, we can guarantee the quality of the final product. Currently, we cannot disclose our plans beyond “The Legend of Zelda” movie, but rest assured, we have numerous other projects in development.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve picked up on the fact that Nintendo is aiming to broaden the reach of their beloved intellectual properties (IPs) by moving beyond the traditional video game model. They aren’t just trying to cash in on popular games by turning them into mediocre movie adaptations; instead, they are fully committed and investing resources into film projects to deliver a high-quality end product that will appeal to both newcomers and longtime Nintendo fans alike.

Beyond sharing my excitement about upcoming Zelda and Mario projects, I can’t help but feel equally thrilled knowing that President Furukawa is working on more extraordinary ventures outside these beloved franchises as well!

Among the IPs (intellectual properties) that are frequently considered for movie adaptations, Kirby, Animal Crossing, and Splatoon tend to stand out as strong possibilities. Donkey Kong could also be a potential frontrunner, although it hasn’t garnered the same level of buzz or anticipation as Animal Crossing and Splatoon in recent times.

Among all franchise options providing ample creative liberty for a captivating movie, Splatoon stands out as the top choice. Its distinctive universe, intriguing backstory, and adored characters make it an ideal candidate for a successful cinematic adaptation.

It’s not very probable that Nintendo will spearhead any adaptations for the Pokemon series, given that the intellectual property (IP) already has a substantial animation division independent of the video game publisher, boasting its own dedicated fanbase. This situation opens up opportunities for other IPs to undergo fresh adaptations. Although no official announcements have been made yet, it’s safe to assume that any new movie news would be greeted with enthusiasm from fans.

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2025-07-05 01:14