Super Mario Bros. (Illumination Entertainment)

[esteban²]

SUPER MARIO BROS.

Universal’s Illumination Entertainment, makers of the Despicable Me franchise, is nearing an agreement with Nintendo to make a Super Mario Bros. animated feature, the Wall Street Journal, reported today.

The last time Mario, Luigi, and Princess Daisy appeared on the bigscreen was the 1993 live-ation bomb Super Mario Bros. released by Walt Disney Studios-Hollywood Pictures. Nintendo has been hesitant ever since to return the Italian plumbers back to cinemas, but a team-up with Illumination, the most consistently successful animation studio at the box office in recent years, seems like a sound bet.

Illumination and Nintendo have been ironing out details of the film deal for over a year. Anonymous sources told WSJ that the discussions have been challenging due to Nintendo’s concerns over creative input:

"The most complicated issue in the negotiations between Illumination and Nintendo has been making the Japanese videogame company feel confident it will be involved enough in the creative process, said one person close to the talks. Nintendo’s creative guru, Shigeru Miyamoto, who created Mario Bros., has been part of the talks and likely will be a producer on the movie, along with [Illumination head] Mr. [Chris] Meledandri," this person said.

The deal would leave open the possibility for sequels, if both parties are pleased with the results of the first film. Illumination Macguff in Paris would handle the production, as it has for all of the studio’s other films.
There’s corporate synergy at play here, too. Another Comcast-NBCUniversal subsidiary, Universal Parks & Resorts, made a deal with Nintendo two years ago to bring Mario and Luigi attractions to its Universal Studios theme parks.
Illumination’s Despicable Me 3 is the top-grossing animated feature globally this year. Its next release, Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, is coming up in November 2018.

[Phobics]

Kinda sucks that you have to be a member to view that link... BUT I hope the film is a good film. I have my doubts but it doesn't have to be very good to be better than the last film which was really bad. I still have no idea what they were thinking when making the 90's film.

[SethRex]

As a Mario fan, I'm interested to see where this goes.

[GC Riot]

[Michael24]

I've always wanted to see a really good animated Super Mario Bros. movie, so I'm down with this.

[SethRex]

I can still see Super Mario Bros. being done well in live action though. If Alice in Wonderland can pull of interesting fantasy worlds, then so can a good and proper Super Mario Bros. movie.

[Foggy]

Not a big Illumination fan, but at least it's a decent studio working on this for a change unlike more recent efforts.

[esteban²]

I was hoping for BlueSky to do this, lost a bit of faith in Illumination Entertainment. I once saw them as very promising, but they need to win me back. Anyway, since Mario Bros is showing up in Wreck-it Ralph 2 next year, there's always the chance he's in at least one good movie.

[Falaskan]

Man you really like being the thread starter, huh?

[esteban²]

When I was a kid, me and my nephews were always fighting about who was the best. Sonic or Mario. Half of us owned a Sega Mega Drive, the other half had a Nintendo. I wonder if that old game between us is going to have a revival now. Since we have a Sonic movie coming up too. Although, that project feels doomed, being a live-action hybrid. Ugh. Sonic Always will be my #1. Although I have to admit I liked Alex Kidd more.

[Predatorix38417]

Originally Posted by esteban²

I was hoping for BlueSky to do this, lost a bit of faith in Illumination Entertainment. I once saw them as very promising, but they need to win me back. Anyway, since Mario Bros is showing up in Wreck-it Ralph 2 next year, there's always the chance he's in at least one good movie.

Blue Sky is really underrated, they get a lot of hate for Ice Age but they’re capable of making really good movies. Peanuts Movie was brilliant and faithful to its source material.

[esteban²]

Couldn't agree more.

[Wildcat2000]

Love both Mario and Sonic but Sonic is my favorite overall ever.

I’m glad Sonic will be live action. I’ve always wanted a live action Sonic movie. It’s had so many delays though. I feel like it has no real timeframe.

As for Mario I’m sure I’ll be good but again I’d prefer live action. The old 90s movie is NOTHING of an example for how good a proper live action Mario could be.

I hope Nintendo and whatever studio is in charge knows that’s nothing to go by and that a live action Mario could actually be great as long as its kept in line with the games.

[Michael24]

Originally Posted by Predatorix38417

Blue Sky is really underrated, they get a lot of hate for Ice Age but they’re capable of making really good movies. Peanuts Movie was brilliant and faithful to its source material.

The Peanuts Movie is the only thing I've seen by Blue Sky but I loved it.

[CyberpunkCentral]

Super Mario Bros Super Show - "f*** you Luigi" - Neatness Counts Clip - YouTube

[Moviefan2k4]

They better get Charles Martinet to do Mario and Luigi's voices, like he does for the games.

[Petey Parker]

If Waluigi doesn't show up in the film then it can piss off.

[goeagles5039]

Originally Posted by Poya

Good:
Despicable Me 1 + 2

Bad:
Everything else.

Yeah, not much faith in this. Saying this will be better than the ‘93 film isn’t exactly a high standard.

I disagree. Sing is one of my favorite movies.

[robgmun]

Originally Posted by Michael24

The Peanuts Movie is the only thing I've seen by Blue Sky but I loved it.

Rio is great fun too, it was also the reason Pixar canned Newt as it was going to be too similar

[principehomura]

Originally Posted by esteban²

I was hoping for BlueSky

Exactly.
Although I enjoyed last Illumination's effort, The Secret Life of Pets, I hate everything else they made.
And BlueSky surprised me with The Peanuts Movie, another thing I was afraid of, being a fanboy.