After the monumental success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Nintendo is gearing up for an even grander venture into Hollywood. Recent reports suggest that Illumination Studios, the creative force behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Despicable Me, is preparing to present Nintendo with a visionary pitch for a cinematic universe. This ambitious project aims to include multiple spinoff movies and an Avengers-style event film that would climax in a Super Smash Bros. movie.
The news comes from Daniel Richtman, a reliable source for Marvel-related scoops, who shared insights on his Patreon account. If the rumors hold true, Illumination is set to outline an expansive Nintendo cinematic universe that taps into the vast array of beloved characters from the gaming giant. The proposed lineup includes spinoffs featuring iconic figures like Luigi, Toad, Peach, Donkey Kong, and Bowser, as well as characters from other franchises such as Kirby, Samus Aran, Captain Olimar, Tom Nook, and Captain Falcon.
Super Smash Bros., known for bringing together characters from various Nintendo games, is poised to be the centerpiece of this cinematic universe. The arcade fighting game has evolved to include fighters from third-party games, broadening the potential scope of the film.
While the prospect of securing film rights for characters from different game publishers seems challenging, the extensive roster of Nintendo characters provides a rich pool for standalone movies. Even though it would be a substantial undertaking for Nintendo, the success of animated Nintendo movies, exemplified by The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s $1.3 billion box office, suggests a promising future for a cinematic universe.
This cinematic venture, if greenlit, could mark a groundbreaking chapter in Nintendo’s foray into the world of movies. While not every character may boast the universal appeal of Mario, the collective strength of Nintendo’s diverse lineup could propel the cinematic universe to success.
As Illumination prepares to make its pitch, the ball ultimately rests in Nintendo’s court, mirroring the anticipation of a well-executed Mario Tennis match.
