Super Mario Bros' movie going to 'Minions' studio
THEPRODUCTIONhousebehind the “Minions,” “Despicable Me” and “Secret Life of Pets” franchises is now working on a “Super Mario Bros.” movie for Nintendo.
Based in California and with its production studio located in Paris, computer animation specialist Illumination Entertainment has built itself up on the successes of “Despicable Me,” “Minions,” “Sing” and “The Secret Life of Pets.”
As Illumination’s first feature, “Despicable Me” climbed to a box office return of US$543 million and the vast majority of the studio’s subsequent releases have done even better, with “Minions” and “Despicable Me 3” clearing US$$1 billion apiece.
Co-owned by Universal Studios but still a relative newcomer in comparison to Pixar, DreamWorks Animation, or even “Ice Age” studio Blue Sky, Illumination’s credentials are not in doubt and the outfit is now understood to have landed “Super Mario Bros.”
Nintendo’s iconic franchise is enjoying a surge in popularity, following a late October release for the acclaimed “Super Mario Odyssey” and the early 2017 debut of the first official Mario game for mobile, “Super Mario Run.”
It won’t be the first time that “Super Mario Bros.” has been adapted for theatrical audiences but fans will be hoping that Illumination’s attempt turns out better than 1993’s critical and commercial flop.
There’s been a recent uptick in video game adaptations, however, with 2016 bringing five such high-potential examples in “The Angry Birds Movie,” “Warcraft,” “Assassin’s Creed,” and “Ratchet & Clank.”
“Castlevania” was Netflix’s episodic animé contribution to the trend in 2017, with Alicia Vikander starring in “Tomb Raider” and Dwayne Johnson leading “Rampage” in 2018.
Nintendo’s collaboration with Illumination is in fact a continuation of its relationship with Universal, which has already started making preparations to incorporate console character themed attractions into its theme parks.
No date has been given for the “Super Mario Bros.” animated movie, with the project early in development according to the Wall Street Journal (and confirmed by Variety.)
Already on Illumination’s slate of upcoming films are numbered sequels to the “The Secret Life of Pets,” “Minions,” and “Sing” movies, as well as a second Dr. Seuss adaptation; further ahead lie “Despicable Me 4” and a “Fl animal s” animated film. — Relaxnews