Nintendo plans regular film releases after Mario success

Nintendo announced plans to establish a “consistent release cadence” for films based on its video game franchises during its second-quarter financial results presentation, building on the massive success of 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movieign.
The company revealed a roadmap showing The Super Mario Galaxy Movie scheduled for April 2026 and a live-action The Legend of Zelda movie set for 2027, with additional unannounced films in developmentign.
Nintendo maintains deep creative control over its film projects, with legendary game creator Shigeru Miyamoto serving as co-producer on all current movies, partnering with Chris Meledandri of Illumination for the Mario films and Avi Arad for the Zelda adaptationign.
The live-action Zelda movie, starring Bo Bragason as Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link, is reportedly set to begin filming in New Zealand this weekgamespot.
A standalone Donkey Kong movie has been suggested as a potential future project, with actor Seth Rogen expressing interest in reprising his role from the first Mario filmign.

Nintendo Confirms Regular Movie Releases After Mario and Zelda Films

Nintendo announced Tuesday that it plans to establish a “consistent release cadence” for films based on its video game franchises, building on the massive success of 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The announcement came during Nintendo’s second-quarter financial results presentation, where President Shuntaro Furukawa outlined the company’s expanding entertainment strategy.ign

The presentation revealed a roadmap showing The Super Mario Galaxy Movie scheduled for April 2026 and a live-action The Legend of Zelda movie set for May 2027, with additional slots marked by question marks suggesting more films are in development. “We are continuing to prepare for the ongoing release of movies in the future,” Furukawa told investors.vgchartz

Nintendo Maintains Creative Control Through Miyamoto

Unlike traditional licensing deals, Nintendo maintains deep involvement in film production from planning through completion. Shigeru Miyamoto, the legendary creator of Mario and Zelda, serves as co-producer on all current projects. For the Mario films, Miyamoto partners with Chris Meledandri of Illumination, while the Zelda movie pairs him with Avi Arad of Arad Productions.vgchartz

“Currently, we are actively taking part in financing and are deeply involved in the production of multiple movies, from planning and development through to production,” Furukawa explained. This hands-on approach contrasts with Nintendo’s past reluctance to license its properties, stemming from the poorly received 1993 Super Mario Bros. film.nintendowire

Building on Unprecedented Success

The strategy follows the extraordinary performance of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed $1.36 billion worldwide and became the highest-grossing video game adaptation ever. The film earned $559 million in net profit, making it 2023’s most profitable blockbuster. According to Nintendo’s financial report, the movie has now been viewed by approximately 170 million people globally.gamespot

Nintendo has established infrastructure to support this expansion, including Nintendo Pictures, an animation studio acquired in 2022, and Nintendo Stars, a licensing subsidiary launched this year to handle film-related merchandising and events. Recent copyright filings suggest a Donkey Kong movie may also be in development, with Universal Pictures listed as co-producer alongside Nintendo.spielwarenmesse

The live-action Zelda film, directed by Wes Ball and starring Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link and Bo Bragason as Zelda, is reportedly set to begin filming in New Zealand this month. Industry insiders suggest it could be part of a planned trilogy spanning six years.gamespot