Nintendo does quite a lot with the properties under its control, particularly with the core Super Mario Bros. franchise. From spin-off games to franchise crossovers like Super Smash Bros. or collectible Amiibo figures – the company has had a penchant for making the most of what they have. On extremely rare occasions a peculiar new addition is added under the Nintendo umbrella such as the Super Nintendo World theme park or retro offerings like the animated tv-series, or the bizarre and poorly-received 1993 Super Mario Bros. film.

While Mario and various other characters from the franchise have periodically made appearances in other media such as Wreck-It Ralph and Pixels, there hasn’t been too much in recent years featuring the Super Mario Bros. cast in the realm of film and TV. With the upcoming animated Super Mario movie in the works, Nintendo is looking to take another stab at the film industry and the road beyond that could very well be a door for even more future content.

With the massive success of superhero films and tv series such as Marvel or DC, it is possible a franchise-rich company like Nintendo could potentially be a gold mine of content in the future. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa appeared to suggest as much in a recent interview, stating that Nintendo is looking past the upcoming Mario film for the animated medium. “Animation, in general, is something that we are looking into,” he said. “And not just this franchise.”

Furukawa continued to delve into the company’s viewpoint on branching out into other media, explaining the company’s decision to maximize its presence outside of the gaming world, while still highlighting the experience that many Nintendo franchises provide. Recognizing the difficulties of making a Super Mario Bros. movie, Furukawa found it crucial to be involved every step along the way, with Shigeru Miyamoto, the father of Mario, placed at the forefront of the upcoming film.

“It’s not that we’ve asked Illumination to handle everything. Mr. Miyamoto is very, very hands-on with the production of this movie.”

Who knows what Nintendo will end up wanting to create in the future? Considering the vast many franchises under the Nintendo umbrella, the possibilities could be endless for where another adaptation might go. With that in mind, there is precedent for the Mario franchise to cross into the 80s and 90s, so perhaps it’s time for a new era to begin. Just imagine a dark and gritty Metroid series or an epic fantasy Legend of Zelda series just ready and waiting to be told.

Let us know your thoughts on the upcoming animated Mario film and the future of Nintendo properties as TV shows or movies in the comments section below. As always, don’t forget to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter for 24/7 coverage of all things gaming and entertainment.

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