Mario has captivated players since his first video game was released in 1985. Since then, countless hours have been spent chasing after mushrooms and stomping turtles in pursuit of saving the adorable Princess Peach. The megalithic Nintendo title has spawned well over 200 sequels, spinoffs, and related titles, to date. Nintendo now seems to be setting the stage for what could be a similarly potent ‘time vampire’ – the Nintendo Cinematic Universe.
Move over, Marvel Studios, and watch your back Warner Bros. The next great cinematic universe may be underway with The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Due for release on April 7, 2023, Super Mario Bros. will introduce Mario and his reluctantly heroic brother, Luigi, to a strange and magical land under existential threat. Bowser, King of the Koopas, is out to conquer the entirety of the Mushroom Kingdom with seemingly nobody powerful enough to try to stop him. That is, except for a pair of bewildered plumbers.
Nintendo’s game catalog is deep and eclectic, offering myriad options for an ever-expanding universe of characters. If Nintendo’s venture into movies comes with half the success of the company’s game properties, Super Mario Bros. may open the door for other fan-favorite characters to find their way onto the silver screen. Let’s take a look at some of the top contenders.
The Legend of Zelda Fans Would Love to See It Come to Life
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The kingdom of Hyrule is in danger. Ganon, a powerful warlock with a heart of pure evil, will stop at nothing until the whole of the realm falls into his merciless grasp. Only Link, an ordinary boy of no discernable importance, can find the courage to stop Ganon and save Hyrule from plunging into eternal darkness.
The Legend of Zelda series is one of the most iconic game properties of all time. Debuting on the NES in 1986, Nintendo continues to deliver high-quality and awe-inspiring games that have often defined the genre for years. Link’s adventures consistently offer action, exploration, and enough brain-twisting puzzles to keep players occupied for hours.
The success of The Legend of Zelda has led to a deeply loyal and adoring fan base. Should a movie or television series ever be developed, there is no shortage of people anxiously waiting to support the endeavor. The Zelda series has continued to enrich its universe with fascinating characters and deep lore that would certainly make for a compelling cinematic experience.
Metroid Stars a Strong Female Protagonist
Samus Aran is a former Galactic Federation soldier who now works as a bounty hunter across the galaxy. She typically wears a powered exoskeleton that is armed with missiles and a variety of energy weapons. Samus regularly takes on assignments that put her in conflict with the Space Pirates and the outlaw band’s leader, Ridley. Additionally, Samus often finds herself battling against parasitic energy-sucking creatures called Metroids, as well as the deceitful cybernetic supercomputer Mother Brain.
Released in 1986, Metroid continues to receive high praise for its female representation so early in the development of video games. Similar to Ellen Ripley from the Alien franchise, Samus is a woman who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. She is brave, daring, and lethally skilled in completing her missions, no matter the cost.
Metroid continues to be a popular and well-respected property found only on Nintendo consoles. Samus’ universe is quite different from the light-hearted and colorful spirit of Mario while also being more serious and gritty than The Legend of Zelda. A film adaptation could take Nintendo films in a visually unexpected direction with more violence, bloodshed, and tension than most viewers would see coming.
Further, offering a female protagonist would be an important step in furthering gender representation. After all, Nintendo properties appeal to everyone. Seeing a powerful female character on screen could be Nintendo’s response to the success of other leading women, such as DC’s Wonder Woman and Black Widow from the MCU.
Super Smash Bros. Features a Massive Catalog of Characters
Ultimately, there are simply too many excellent Nintendo properties to examine them all. From the action-heavy space drama of Starfox to the insatiable addiction that is Pokémon, Nintendo has made a habit of creating characters and games that stand the test of time. Perhaps no game shows off Nintendo’s vast array of characters better than Super Smash Bros.
Nintendo’s take on the classic side-scroller fighting game, Super Smash Bros. pits their massive catalog of characters against each other in a battle for supremacy. The game has all the makings of a classic film in the spirit of Marvel’s Endgame or Warner Bros.’ Justice League. It seems probable, if not likely, that a franchise built around Nintendo’s game properties would culminate in a meshing of all the disparate characters into one central climax of epic proportions.
Though the Nintendo Cinematic Universe has yet to begin or be announced, the possibility of an ever-expanding web of Nintendo properties hinges upon the success of Super Mario Bros. If Mario can conquer the box office along with Bowser, fans have good reason to hope for a lot more Nintendo films in the future.
