Nintendo and US animation studio Illumination have announced plans for a new animated film based on the world of Super Mario Bros. The film is set to be released on April 3, 2026, and will be produced by Chris Meledandri from Illumination and Shigeru Miyamoto from Nintendo. It will be directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, with the screenplay written by Matthew Fogel. The previous Super Mario film, 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie', was a huge success, becoming the second-highest grossing film of 2023 and earning $1.36 billion at the box office. The film's popularity also had a positive impact on game sales from the 'Mario' franchise. The new film will be co-financed by Universal Pictures and Nintendo, and it will be distributed worldwide by Universal Pictures [4371b4ed].
The success of the first Super Mario Bros. movie has sparked curiosity and excitement among fans, leading to the announcement of a second animated film. The upcoming movie may introduce new characters, adventures, and worlds to enrich the Mario universe. Speculations extend to the influence of the movie on the video game domain and the potential for more adaptations of gaming classics. The release of the second movie is eagerly anticipated, with details on the voice cast, direction, and animation style awaited. The collaboration between Nintendo and Illumination could have significant implications for the video game industry, attracting a broader audience and contributing to its growth. However, adapting video games into films presents challenges, and unsuccessful adaptations risk damaging the reputation of both games and movies [bf27441e].
In addition to the Super Mario Bros. movie, there are plans for a live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda. The director of the upcoming Zelda film, Wes Ball, has expressed his ambition to fulfill people's greatest desires with the movie. Ball wants to create a serious and cool film that can give people an escape while also being fun and whimsical. He considers The Legend of Zelda to be the most important untapped intellectual property. Further details about the release date and production of the Zelda film are yet to be announced [b8883027].