A new animated film based on the "Super Mario" franchise may soon be hitting the big screen as Illumination Entertainment, the company behind "Minions" and "Despicable Me," is close to making a deal with Nintendo.
The production company has reportedly been in talks with the Japanese game publisher since last year, and is working on a deal that would put the popular gaming franchise to cinemas. Nintendo, on the other hand, is being keen on ensuring that it is heavily involved in the creative process involved in the animated film.
This is understandable, as Super Mario's first foray into the big screen, the live action "Super Mario Bros." film from back in 1993 ended up as a massive critical and financial disaster. Nintendo has since been very protective of its intellectual properties, with only the Pokemon franchise delving into the wide world of movies.
Still, rumors of movies about "Super Mario" or "The Legend of Zelda" have been around for many years. Last year, it was reported that Netflix will be producing a live-action series based on "The Legend of Zelda," but it turned out to be false.
However, Nintendo's interest on a film adaptation not surprising, especially in light of the company's recent push for expansion opportunities beyond its excellent gaming repertoire. Recently, the company teamed up with Vans and Uniqlo for some Nintendo-themed line of clothing, and inked a deal with Universal to build an array of Nintendo-themed park attractions.
The venture into movies will also come in the midst of the rise of some of Nintendo's excellent "Super Mario" games. Its mobile phone game "Super Mario Run" has been downloaded over 200 million times, and the recently released "Super Mario Odyssey" is being lauded as one of the best games of the year and the best title in the "Super Mario" series.
