According to a reputable insider, in the wake off the massive success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Illumination and Nintendo are working on many more projects together.
Zippo, an insider who has had multiple verified scoops in the past in relation to Nintendo, says that the animated movie and video game companies are developing both spinoffs from the aforementioned smash hit that was The Super Mario Bros. Movie as well as an animated movie based on another popular Nintendo property.
It's said that a spinoff focused on Seth Rogen's character from The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Donkey Kong, is in the works as well as one starring Charlie Day's character of Luigi. Both of these characters have helmed their own video game series in the past such as Donkey Kong Country and Luigi's Mansion; we can only assume that their solo movies will be heavily inspired by those entries in the franchise.
Additionally, a straight-up sequel to The Super Mario Bros. movie is supposedly in the works, which isn't much of a surprise given the insane box office numbers that the first movie managed. It's the second highest-grossing animated movie of all-time (after Disney's Frozen 2) and the highest-grossing movie of the year so far, having earned $1.3 billion.
What's more and probably most controversially, Illumination are reportedly adapating The Legend of Zelda video game franchise to the big screen in the same vein as The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Apparently, the movie wont be a direct adaptation of any The Legend of Zelda game in particular but rather be an amalgamation, which is understandable given that The Legend of Zelda lore as it stands is nigh incomprehensible. The hero of The Legend of Zelda, will supposedly speak in the film, which he is known for not doing in the games; so it will be interesting to see how that's handled.
Of course, take these rumours with a grain of salt, especially since it's said the WGA (Writers Guild of America) and SAG (Screen Actors Guild) strikes are currently throwing a wrench into the mix, as justified as they may be. Nintendo and Universal were apparently eyeing a holiday 2025 release for the Donkey Kong spinoff and a 2026 release for The Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel, but it's likely these plans will be altered given the strikes. Stay posted!
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