It may be a cult classic but the 1993 Super Mario Bros. movie was a critical and commercial bomb. Despite the fairly obvious lesson that the Mushroom Kingdom and Hollywood don't mix, it would appear that the movie industry's memory is a short one; Sony Pictures is apparently very close to finalising a deal with Nintendo to create another Mario flick.
Emails leaked during the recent Sony Pictures hack suggest that the paperwork is all but signed. On October 23rd this year, producer Avi Arad (The Amazing Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, Ghost Rider, X-Men) emailed Sony studio chief Amy Pascal with the news "I am the proud father of mario the animated film." Pascal forwarded the same email to TriStar's (a Sony Pictures subsidiary) Tom Rothman, stating that “Avi closed Mario brothers."
The next day, Arad — who is also developing films based on inFAMOUS, Mass Effect, Metal Gear Solid and Uncharted — would email Sony Pictures Animation president of production Michelle Raimo Kouyate, thanking her for a congratulatory basket she had to him sent packed with Mario merchandise. "Let’s build a Mario empire!" Kouyate replied. The leaks show that Kouyate also forwarded the photo of the basket to Amy Pascal, claiming that she "can think of 3-4 movies right out of the gate on this. So huge!"
The negotiations — which, since the leak, Arad has claimed are still ongoing and haven't yet been signed — have been going on for most of 2014, and possibly even earlier. Back in February of this year, Kouyate emailed Pascal to tell her that Arad was travelling to Japan "to meet with his Nintendo guy (who he has been courting for a couple years)." In July, Arad emailed Pascal to inform her that he was “heading to Tokyo … I am going to try and bring back a little plumber. I guess we can all use our pipes cleaned."
Despite Sony Pictures' obvious connection with Sony Computer Entertainment, it would appear that the conflict of interest isn't a stumbling block for either party; if these emails are to be believed, Nintendo has gotten over that traumatic 1993 movie and is keen to leverage its most famous brand by creating animated movies. It already has a successful and long-running line of Pokémon films, and films based on Mario would surely prove to be even bigger.
Do you think Mario should star on the silver screen again, or do you think this is a bad idea? Let us know with a comment.
Thanks to Benson for the tip!
[source buzzfeed.com]
Comments 158
No, NO, NOOO!!!!
The ground under my feet just got very cold...
I know people might be baffled that it's Sony pictures, but this could be so good for Nintendo. Just look at the ridiculous levels of merchandise that have formed around movies like Frozen, Despicable Me and Cars. This could be the spark for the next boom period for Nintendo.
IMO, a Mario movie needs to be like a Pixar one; a film that has heart, and isn't a cheaply animated turd with pop-culture references that only serve to make people cringe.
With that said, I'm picturing a comedy/adventure film with a Studio Ghibli-esque vibe.
But Sony only cares about the US! This movie is bound to have a negative effect on the franchise...
This would be nice... let's see where this goes..
Wow, this looks like it could come close to being the worst game movie , finally beating DOA. Now, if only Mario will be played by Owen Wilson I'll be 100% sure. And then kids who saw the movie will be disappointed by the games that don't look enough like the movies and have the wrong voices for the characters.
as long as it's animated ala Toy Story type then fine, live action forget it
I never understand why they make live action movies based on games because they have to change so much at least animated you can make a world that looks like the game and even use the same voice actors (but you need a good studio to do it unlike the ones Capcom used for the Resident Evil animated movies)
Sony and Nintendo unite once again!
I thought it coulsn't get any worse with that announcement of a Tetris movie. Apparently I was wrong :/
@ Punished_Boss_84
Heh, Sony announces the movie at E3, and the very next day Nintendo says "lol nevermind".
No they should be getting Studio Ghibli to make the movie, Studio Ghibli + Nintendo = AMAZING
Nintendo should let Funmation, Pixar or Dreamworks produce a movie with their IP. Wreck' it Ralf is proof that it needs to be handled by experts in the field who don't have a conflict of interest. Plus marvels problems with the Sony Spiderman deal is proof that you don't want to do a deal with them (sony Pictures) when it comes to one of your (Nintendo) major IP.
I shall remain cautiously optimistic about this.
Cool, it's nice to see two companies that have devisions in the Video Game industry, unite for a single cause. I just hope that the movie is good and doesn't send the wrong message to the fans of the Super Mario Bros franchise...
I found it really funny when I read "Let’s build a Mario empire!" - would that be the same Mario empire Nintendo have been successfully building since the 1980s? That comes across as being full of themselves in the most worst way in my eyes.
@shaneoh could have sworn that studio closed, personally I think a natural fit for Nintendo would be Disney
>Avi Arad
>Avi Arad
>AVI ARAD
So if Sony makes the Mario movie, who get the obligatory video game tie in?
Since tie in video games are usually crap I cant see Nintendo wanting that on its system. Maybe this is the PlayStation's way of getting Mario on their console cdi style.
I don't get a good feeling about Sony trying to make a Mario movie. Has we want to ruin you all over it.
Please no...
..I'm not sure. Since it's with Sony Pictures; I don't think this will end well..
Hmm could be good could be bad. Sony Pictures is hit-and-miss. Though I'm sure Nintendo is going to be watching them like a hawk.
I've always said that Nintendo is the perfect fit for Studio Ghibli's return to form. Especially since Miyamoto has now animated a movie once more.
Thank god it's animated. Hopefully it's good if true
I'm gonna remain optimistic about this. I'm glad it's animated, because a live-action Mario movie won't be the same without Bob Hoskins. I hope Charles Martinet will voice the characters he usually does, and that Nintendo supervises the production to make sure Sony Pictures doesn't goof it up.
@Rob_mc_1 Somehow I think Nintendo will own all merchandise rights and they'll likely have a lot to say on how the movie turns out. Maybe this movie tie is that new Mario title Nintendo hinted at earlier this year which had no named system.
SONY AND NINTENDO? They unite once again so it seems....
All Nintendo characters need to be in this movie just like the movie Roger Rabbit.
3d Imax!
Oh lord... ._.
Danny Devito as Mario's voice
Is it April already?
I actually just had a crazy idea. What if it's Lego Movie inspired? As in, it's about a kid playing video games or something.
I'm not against a Mario Movie but it needs to be really good!
Nintendo have a stranglehold on their IP and they also have serious quality control measures. I'm confident that they'd sooner see this movie canned after 90% completion then to let something they disapproved of get released. I'm going to remain hopeful for this.
@FragRed Mario Boom?
In order for me to have any hope in this project, one of two things must happen:
1. They get Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the duo behind Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs and Lego Movie to direct. If anyone can make a stupid idea awesome, it's them.
2. They get Rich Moore, the guy who directed Wreck-It-Ralph. He seems to know his way around video games and how to make them work on screen.
Also, Sony backs down from having too much creative control and let the director + Nintendo do their input.
@Grumblevolcano On that day, it'll be Judgement Day. The Bible says so.
@Kage_88
Wow, I would love a Pixar Mario film.
@Damo
There was an update on the buzzfeed article.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/adambvary/sony-nintendo-mario-bros-movie?s=mobile
"After publication, Arad denied to BuzzFeed News via email that the Super Mario deal had closed, saying his negotiations with Nintendo were “just the beginning.” "
If proven true and eventually successful, I'll be always waiting for the spin-off of Rosalina's Storybook.
As for the Mario-Pixar thing: Disney is already in development for Wreck-it Ralph 2, which will better reference franchises such as Super Mario. Not Pixar, but Disney Animation is top tier too.
@BensonUii Yup, I mentioned that in the new piece
I'm sure it'll be fine in Sony PICTURES hands, it's not SCE.
Everyone take a deep breath, it's Nintendo, if they give the go ahead ( which it seems they have) then you know they have gone through all contracts and scripts and details with a VERY fine tooth comb.
It'll be a kids Mario movie with loads of references to 80's and 90's Nintendo.
@SuperWiiU DOA clearly failed because no one consulted with Team Ninja about jiggle physics.
/s
Near the end of production, Nintendo will hand it all over to Philips.
I will watch it
I will be optimistic, but if it is like the original film or the Mario Sunshine cinematics, then I will pass.
Hoping this becomes more than just a guilty pleasure for me, if it's real, that is.
ok as one youtuber said "hey fanboys, the leaders of the different console companys DON'T WHAT TO KILL EACH OTHER!!! at that when Sony reached 10 million PS4 sold BOTH Reggie and Phil congratulated them." I also what to note here that the leader of Sony computer entertainment in Japan HAS TWO WIIUs and hopes "Nintendo will do well and stay in the console business."
Now with that out of the way, Sony Pictures NEEDS a movie to do GREAT so therefore they can't mess this up or they might just as well have had Mario dig their grave.
As with the Mario Bros disaster, I could see Nintendo keeping a very close eye on the new movie. Therefore I'm going to say at its worst it will be a good kids movie at its best Its going to be a GREAT MOVIE.
@NES_64 Yep and how those children's hearts will be crushed when they realise they'll have to buy the "kiddie" console Wii U or 3DS to own the game.
I don't get the negativity. This could be excellent for Nintendo from a financial standpoint, if done right, especially since it seems it's an animated film.
All of my hate. Avi Arad is a stupid....GOD! I hate that man. He's been screwing Spider-Man in the butt for years, and now this.
Why do people like him have so much control over movies?!?!?!
Disney, step up and put an end to this. Please. Disney > Sony Pictures.
Sony? Avi freaking Arad? Hahahaha NO! If anyone should make a Nintendo movie it should be Walt Disney animation. (Or whoever did the Pikmin shorts)
Right now Nintendo needs some exposure so this can only be a good thing. All exposure is good, even the bad type.
@cookiex Rich Moore is also one of the classic Simpsons and Futurama directors
@ricklongo
Because they're better choices. Some of us that actually want a Mario Bros. movie want a good movie. And that idiot who ruined Spider-Man, and Sony Pictures isn't the type you make deals with when you want a quality movie
Dude, this should happen. I mean, sure it's Sony, but it's not too bad of a deal. As long as Nintendo is smart, nothing too bad will happen. And I'd probably watch it. Because that would be so cool.
Well let's see, since this announcement Hell's frozen over, I seen 2 pigs flying over head dropping the kids off to School and didn't think anything of it and Some guy on the corner kept screaming it's the end of the world!
In all seriousness though Sony sees money and that's all that matters. This could benefit both companies so why not. Who knew their partnership wouldn't be the PlayStation but a movie like what 20 years later.
Dare I say a multiplatform game is made from this movie for all systems...........my heart just skipped a beat there. This could pave the way for Mario to appear on other consoles.......quick pinch myself it must be a dream!
First step: Nintendo and Sony make a movie.
Next step: Nintendo and Sony partnership in gaming.
The sooner, the better.
I wonder if the source is as reliable as that 4chan one Nintendolife used a few days ago?
I don't mind... as long as it's after Sony fix their crap security. And Nintendo will be overseeing every detail of course.
I mean with modern CGI animation they could totally make it work. The only thing is Mario imo doesn't exactly translate well in terms of a vocal actor.
Ari must of promised to buy a Wii U to close the deal. Terrible producer. Any success the pictures he was involved with had were due to the name of the product not the quality. This guy also has a number of projects being worked on and I doubt any of them will be worth a damn to watch.
Please never let Studio Ghibli near it. I know people like anime but there's a lot of Mario fans who can't stand the stuff.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! XDXD XD XD
This is going to be great, or a flop, since Sony really is a hit-or-miss studio, but when they hit, some great movies can result. Also, I hope Waluigi will be in the movie!
And how come everyone hates Avi Arad and the new Spider Man movies?! I've seen both and I think they're excellent, although I've never read the comics so maybe the reason most people hate on them is because they aren't true to the comics... Which would be stupid since they are still good movies regardless.
Just make Danny DeVito Mario and we will be all set.
@Spakiness I was thinking of Mario Tennis for the GBA. It was uncomfortable that the other characters had to translate his exuberant gibberish. Made him seem not all there.
I've been saying for years that Nintendo needs to return Mario to either/both film & TV. Now I was hoping for someone other then Sony Pictures Animation. They do have some movies that I have enjoyed with my family but they also have turned some franchises that I love into garbage. I grew up watching the Smurf cartoon on Saturday mornings and what the released into theaters is 100% garbage. I also both hate & love the Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs movies. I loved the books, some of my favorite children books so what they did to the original story was bad, however, I actually laugh and have fun when I watch those movies.
I don't know, I'm on the fence. If Nintendo has a watchdog at the studio making sure Mario is done to their standards then I'm all for it. If Sony is given the creative freedom to make Mario extra smurfy then they can go smurf themselves.
If the movie is done well it could be so awesome!
@LUIGITORNADO Fair enough. Still, we know next to nothing about the project. If it happens, there's definitely a good chance the result could be good if Nintendo keeps a tight presence during the creative process.
And by the way, "ruined" Spider Man? The Amazing Spider Man isn't exactly a great movie, but the third film of the previous trilogy has to be one of the worst pieces of crap I ever spent my money on. If anything, TASM salvaged the franchise.
Arad doesn't have the best track record... as much as I wish it would be done smart and in a way that isn't cheesy or awful, I know they are not going to handle this IP correctly...
If it's animated i'm okay with it,but i just care if they make it fun for everyone.Not just for kids,but who knows it can be amazing a cult hit.
Uh, another one? We are still having nightmares from the last one!
As long as it's not live-action, just full CGI with the actual VAs for the characters and with a narrative that could actually be considered parallel to the games (I'd actually like to see a movie based on Super Mario 64 with remastered tracks and play itself out like an action-adventure film a la the Tomb Raider movies) I can dig it.
As far as this partnership with Sony Pictures goes...it is a little unorthodox. Not that it's a bad thing. This could be a huge boon to Nintendo and Sony both. Nothing against Microsoft, but they insist on pandering to their chief demographic of 20-30-something dudebros who still act like they're in high school, getting hyped off of every cliche action-overflowing piece of media that grabs their attention...or something like that.
So will there be a tie in game and if so, for which console? XD
I'm okay with an animated picture, I'm okay with Sony working on it especially if their Ratchet & Clank movie turns out decent, but Avi Arad? ... Naaaah. Anyway, I think Mario should have already been in Wreck-It Ralph and should have appeared at the end to give the obligatory message to Ralph, but eh.
Just, please don't ever make the Metal Gear Solid movie you've got planned. The games are movies themselves already.
@megamanlink You realize that Funimation basically is just taking already completed anime and doing the sub and dub work for them, right?
I've got mixed feelings on this one. It can work if they make a new story, or use a story like Paper Mario's because they actually have a plot. But most of the Super Mario games don't have a complicated plot, just a paper thin excuse to go on a coin stealing and head stomping murder spree.
@shaneoh Studio Ghibli = Nintendo = Confirmed flop/Limited release.
Ghibli doesn't do CGI movies. Hand-drawn movies don't sell anymore.
There's also this thing about Ghibli kind of not existing anymore...
Yes! As animation this movie has a change (small albeit) of being good.
As long as it's Pixar-quality (or like the Smash 4 trailers) and voiced by Charles Martinet (think I got that right) then I'm fine. It could be the thing that puts Nintendo back in the spotlight!
I would say it's gonna flop, but let's be honest. Hollywood makes bad movies, (especially Sony) because Trolls watch 'em. Don't anyone get offended, we have all been part of the curiosity of what looks to be a promising movie with poor presentation (Mortal Kombat in my case) and paid handsomely for it (opening night in my case). Kids are gonna want their own bad Mario movie, so I'm sure this will get butts in seats. whether or not it's good.
They should have developed this with Disney or Pixar.
"It already has a successful and long-running line of Pokémon films, and films based on Mario would surely prove to be even bigger."
Not sure that's ENTIRELY right but still. Interesting.
Tough franchise to make a movie on. The game relies on complete absurdity as a charming factor. In a movie you need something to anchor to in order to care. With smart, experienced people behind it, it could be good, but it's a huge challenge. It goes without saying that this has to be animated.
One nice change since the 80's is that there is now a Luigi (not just a green mario) who has had his own adventures to draw on for personality. Peach can now stand up for herself more. Captain Toad just launched and can absorb all the need for something super cute. Even Mario, since Mario 64, now has a fun-loving personality and has an acrobatic ability not just big jumps and a fist that can break bricks.
Bowser has a Jr. There's the koopalings which are very generic but could be developed based on their character design.
There's much more to work with now.
What a mine field though when it comes to making it work right.
What I'm hoping for is a complete runaway hit due to a smart approach so we can move on to Zelda and Metroid movies with some confidence.
SO MUCH YES!!!!
@Melkac Ghibli exists, fortunately. They had to switch to a more traditional animation studio model in Japan where they hire animators per movie rather than keep the studio staffed with full-timers from year-to-year. Sadly, Hayao Miyazaki seems truly retired from feature-length movie making (still doing shorts for museum and manga).
I agree with you on a Ghibli Mario --that wouldn't make sense-- however, a Ghibli produced Legend of Zelda movie would be perfection and could garner a huge audience, IMO. A big part of that is because the design of Zelda games have been heavily influenced by Ghibli films over the years and the styles mesh very well. Watch something like Princess Mononoke or even Totoro and Nausicaa but with Link, Zelda, Midna... it could be breathtaking. Plus, Ghibli films are almost entirely concerned with character over plot which would serve the Zelda mythologies well. Chances of it happening are near zero percent, but it's a fun dream.
What I can see from alot of reactions is that people think the movie sucks...
how do they even know that, it's status is closing the deal. Not just released on blu-ray.
Well if it's anything like the last one movie, you can count me out. Hopefully, they can learn from the many mistakes form Mario's cinema debut and make this one halfway decent; but I wound not count on it.
I literally started repeating "Oh no..." out loud the second I saw this. I suppose there's a chance it could be good, but after the first attempt, I don't think we can take another...
sure, why not
No. Way.
The ONLY two viable options I see are:
1.) Nintendo making their own animated Mario movie(s). They could outsource the animation if they really needed to but those Sm4sh cutscenes are a great indication of their capabilities. Plus, they have some great storytellers, like Yoshiaki Koizumi who did the storybook and plot for Mario Galaxy.
2.) Have Disney do it. They want Mario for Wreck-it-Ralph 2. They want to handle the character with a ton of respect as opposed to this cashgrab that Sony seems to be content with pulling. Give it to Disney, they could pull it off better than anyone that isn't Nintendo.
Two things:
1. Make sure it is animated. It cannot be live action.
2. Don't make it weird.
That is all.
"Let's build a Mario empire."
Which means "Let's make as many movies with this as we can, then try shoehorning it into a crossover with something else we own the rights to."
@cookiex lol =)
Meh...just gonna wait, maybe it'll just quietly get cancelled or something like that Metroid movie a long time ago.
@Diddy_kong The emails said "Animated."
GIVE ME THIS MOVIE. I WANT IT.
@dkxcalibur I feel the same about Cloudy With A Chance. SO.... MANY... PUNS...
@robohobo93 Hotel 23 Marios On Jump Street In Black.
I believe a new two-dimensional Mario movie that could be shown in movie theaters over the course of 60 minutes or more would be interesting for folks who usually saw him in three-dimensional games and commercial advertisements for television.
An animated Mario movie might not be bad, but I'm not going to expect it to be as good as some recent animated movies like Big Hero 6 or How to Train your Dragon 2.
I can't see why not as long as it's not live action. A 3D CGI Super Mario Bros. movie would be great. Good to see Sony trying to work with Nintendo again.
Just handle a Sony studio to Miyamoto and everything will be fine. That Mario empire line though...
I'm not surprised Nintendo would go with Sony for a Mario movie. They're probably the biggest movie company in Japan, after all. I am a bit skeptical about the movie itself, though. I just can't see Mario translating well to the big screen. As many critics have pointed out over the years, Mario games don't really have stories. That's fine for games, where gameplay is most important, but a good story is integral to a movie, even a movie meant for kids. I'll probably end up seeing the movie whether it's good or not, though.
They should give Uwe Boll $100,000,000 and make it a spiritual sequel to Rampage 2 except the guy on a rampage is Mario.
Is reporting on this news any more ethical than viewing leaked personal photos of a celeb and writing a blog about how so-and-so has this-or-that pierced?
@Kage_88 i couldnt agree more
@Kage_88 i couldnt agree more
I'll believe it when I see it. My prediction: this never comes to fruition. It will die either in negotiations or at the scripting stage.
The problem with video game movies is that I hate it when video game main characters talk (various noises are fine, but not talking at length). It takes away the mystique of the character and the sense that the character is you. I don't want to know Mario's thoughts and motivations, because they are supposed to be my thoughts and motivations. Plus, I bet Mario's voice would be come extremely annoying after an hour or two of chatter.
That's why I liked the Pikmin short films so much. Nice silent style.
No. A Zelda movie could be interesting but Mario? Think i'll pass
An animated Mario movie could be awesome! I've always felt like the main Super Mario games don't have enough emphasis on story. Like, there's practically none. Peach gets kidnapped, you save Peach after going through dozens of levels. The end.
There are so many characters in the Mario world, with so much personality. A movie, done well, would be an awesome chance to show them off!
an animated zelda movie would bee cool, as long as he wont shout out his tools when using them, 'hookshot!'
If its even half as giid as the 93 movie, ill be happy.
Nintendo doesn't have film subdivision so it doesn't really matter if Nintendo is working with their competition,it's not like they still hate each other. They also gave Sony the licence to use Donkey Kong in Pixels. Hopefully Shigeru and other Mario developers are cooperating on the film so it wouldn't be another disaster
Yay, sequel! Will this be live action or animated?
@torotoid64
The studio is restructuring before deciding on future plans. Miyazaki was just one director, they still have several other directors.
@Melkac
Movie doesn't need to be CGI (Z0MG l337 gr4ph1c5). Art style does not dictate whether a movie will sell.
I'm remaining open-minded but cautious. The Sony/Microsoft and Nintendo/Microsoft relationships are a lot more hostile than Sony/Nintendo, so I'm not worried about that. I just don't want it to be an obvious low-budget cash-grab.
I actually liked the Super Mario Bros. movie, but it definitely wasn't worthy of any awards, regardless I don't understand the incredible amount of hate that the movie got from fans. The actors didn't even necessarily hate the movie itself, besides sir Hoskins, but they loathed the dreadful directors who as rumor has it were banned from the set midway through the production of the movie.
Completely CG (none of this half-live action/half-CG Chipmunks/Smurfs nonsense) with Charles Martinet voicing.
Yes but only if it is animated and animated only. No live action what so ever. I think they could make some very good movies. I would still like to see Mario in the next Wreck it Ralph.
I'm all for this and would even be excited if it wasn't Arad. What the hell?
I'm ready for this!
@cookiex Oh come on, the X-Men and Spider-Man movies were good.
Oh wait. He did X-Men 3 and Spider-Man 3, didn't he? And Ghost Rider. And the Fantastic Four movies. And the Pac-Man Disney show. Yeah, maybe a good time to panic.
I was wondering how Sony was planning to rise to it's previous position of dominance...
@cookiex "Bunny used Flee!" "Avi Arad used Western comic book superhero movie roboticizer machine on Mario Bros!" "Bunny's Flee isn't effective!"
As long as it doesnt suck im fine.
(inb4 sony fails on purpose to taint ninty's franchises)
@Guitardude7 It wouldn't be a great Mario movie without Martinet doing Mario and Luigi's voice.
@3DSFlo 1993 didn't have companies like Pixar or Dreamworks, or even Wreck-It Ralph, so it could be better than expected.
Turning mario into a decent script is always gonna be a challenge
Turning mario into a decent script is always gonna be a challenge
"YESSS YESSSSS"
M. Bison
I don't know how to feel about this. One part of me is screaming bloody murder while the other is being hopeful. At least it should be watchable.
To @Everyone worried about a conflict of interest or Sony trying to "ruin" Mario, you do realize that thats not how things work, right? These companies don't actually hate each other, and even then Sony Pictures is separate from SCE, they have nothing to do with one another beside both being owned by Sony.
Besides, you don't buy the rights to an IP and spend millions making movies of it just to purposely have them bomb to sabotage another company. Thats very self-destructive, especially for a company that doesn't need another division bleeding money, and both sides have a lot to gain from this. Mario is the most profitable game franchise in the world, why wouldn't Sony want to bust their butt making a Mario movie?
As long as its in the same vain as the Super Mario Super Show I don't think anything could go wrong. They just need to take advantage of the cast being a "troupe of actors" as Miyamoto put it, and be sure Charles Martinet voices Mario and Luigi.
Uh, cool? Just make it good.
@YoshiTails My concern exactly. Sony Pictures has no interest in spending money on a failure just to spite a different Sony divisions rival. The real problem with this is that Mario is a game first and storied character second. I am a huge Mario fan, but I challenge you to name one personality trait that makes him a great narrative character. This is by design! Mario games are about play mechanics and level design, not character or storytelling. That's not to say they can't make up a whole character from scratch full of personality traits and character flaws, name him Mario and spin the thoughtful Pixar-esque tale of our dreams, I just really doubt it. It's a cash grab for a marketable brand. The lack of quality in the subsequent film won't be a Playstation conspiracy, but because Mario is a character better suited to the platforming bliss that is unique to the medium of gaming not the narrative demands of the medium of film. If someone at Sony is smart they'll use Lego movie as a model, but I don't see Nintendo giving them that latitude with the characters. Mario is just better realized as a game. And there's nothing wrong with that!
@indienapolis If you've read the Super Mario Adventures manga from back in the day of Nintendo Power, you'd see that the Mario universe is, in fact, ripe for characterization and narrative, and has been for a long time. Miyamoto just sucks at the writing and prose department, so he (wisely) chooses not to focus on it.
"UPDATE: Arad has denied that the deal has closed"
I wonder if people will ever get fed up by being lied to for clicks.
This is exciting and extraordinary, I have high hopes!
@AwesomeReshiram Your avatar is a thing of beauty.
@PlywoodStick I haven't read that. I'll have to track it down. Was it published in Nintendo Power?
I'll agree that Miyamoto isn't a great storyteller. Even though I consider him an important cultural figure of the 20th/21st century, I'll state the unpopular opinion that I was underwhelmed by the Pikmin shorts. It's just not his form. I disagree, though, that that's the reason he doesn't focus on storytelling. He's a visionary game maker, probably unrivaled at his craft. His Mario games are pure expressions of creative thought and play, and nearly every one daring in their exploration and evolution of their play mechanics. There's no story in them because that just ins't the point. They are perfect expressions of their medium: games.
I love movies, I just don't think that every idea is best expressed in that form. Some ideas are best expressed as comics. Some ideas are best expressed as songs. Some are best as movies, and some as video games. I just have a hard time imagining my love of Mario being enhanced as movie, but I'm always hopeful to be wrong about such things.
All that said, if Studio Ghibli wants to take a crack at Zelda...
no no non no, so much NO!!
Nintendo should just make their own film and tv division.
Honestly, I'm really looking forward to this. I can definitely see myself watching these movies and probably even buying them on DVD as long as Nintendo is officially involved. Could be good fun.
This is great news. I'm sure they have learned from the mistakes of the past. Nintendo won't allow another disaster movie.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.... why Nintendo, what happened to being independent...
"can think of 3-4 movies right out of the gate on this. So huge!"
Yeah, milking it before it has even started! That's the spirit!
As for the people that go on a limb regarding Sony: Nintendo probably feels more safe at a Japanese company. Disney, Dreamworks, etc are all American.
Hopefully it will be a fun CG (or even better: hand-drawn animation. Though very unlikely) movie. Worst case scenario: A Smurfs/Chipmunk travesty!!
@Henmii "Worst case scenario: A Smurfs/Chipmunk travesty!!"
EXACTLY
I feel like the one thing that holds the most weight as to whether this movie is a success is if Mario is allowed to speak beyond his occasional yelps and wa-hoos. A video game character like Mario or Link exists to simply be an avatar for the player. I can't see how any studio could give Mario a serious amount of dialogue and not have it feel like they're trying to make Mario into something that he's not.
The real question is: who will play Mario?
BTW: I really like the old Super Mario Bros. movie from the 90s.
Animated Nintendo films are the obvious answer. Mario will make a good 'foot in the door' movie actually, and I will sell my soul for an animated Star Fox epic. I have been dreaming of that for nearly 20 years. Plus, Mario was supposed to be in Wreck it Ralph, but they didn't know where to put him even though Sonic shows up like three times.
An animated Mario movie is a non brainer. That said, I am little suspicious on the part that Nintendo would give Sony the license to sell merchandise. This would be probably be almost as valuable as the movie so it makes little sense to me.
Considering that there's way more Mario games to draw inspiration from, there shouldn't be any reason to mess up this time.
I can't see the necessity to add too many characters as it wouldn't make a coherent story if they do. Besides, having plenty to choose from could lead to sequals if the film is done right.
Thing is, they could add references to other Nintendo games too if the snuck them in as background apperances. Things like Starwing fomations flying over head, Little Mac in a fight somebody's tv, billboards with 1080 snow board gear.
Worst Mario / video game movie ever?
Avi Arad is a big name director and Charles Martinet as Mario in a high def 3D animated flick would be gold.
Put Miyamoto (who has film experience now) and Koji Kondo as advisors on the project, and it could be a fantastic film.
People forget about stuff like Street Fighter, King of Fighters, Tekken, DOA, Super Mario Bros and countless other turds that live action has produced, but the Sony distributed Spirits Within, Advent Children, SF Alpha movie, Tekken anime and Bayonetta animated films were all quite well done.
DOA wasn't even that bad (the ending was horrid, but until Donovan fights, it was fun and entertaining).
I agree with the 'foot in the door' comments.
Metroid, Star Fox, Fire Emblem would be great features.
Zelda would be a great series.
And Kirby was a decent little show.
Sony has probably the most respect for Nintendo in the 'mainstream' media world and has distribution centres in places most companies have to pay milions to get at.
Put it on the Wii U / 3DS for a nice discount and I'm all for it.
Heavenly Sword, an overhyped slasher with next to nothing as far as a plot is concerned, has it's own movies. Halo too, but at least Halo has a plot and some history.
Silent Hill and Resident Evil have been dragged through the mud numerous times and between Mass Effect, Dead Space, Dante's Inferno and Dragon Age, EA's basically guaranteed it'll be somewhere in the middle to upper end of the spectrum.
Nintendo designed handheld / console with Sony tech?
Nintendo aren't film makers. Sony has a film studio. This partnership makes sense.
Look at how the news portrays the Wii U / Nintendo: constantly mixing up the console names, getting basic facts mixed up and confused (online, BC, feature sets) and basically all consumed with Sony (who made their TV, computer, or cell phone) and MS (who made the operating system for that computer).
Aside from Sony (whose top guy owns and plays the Wii U), no one in the industry has the knowledge and respect for Nintendo.
And to Arad's credit, the comics that those stories were based off were cheesy in and of themselves. Created in the 60s, 70s and 80s, it's funny how 'divergent' is a four letter word when concerning Arad, but Nolan's Batman films are basically just Heat starring Batman, Nolan and Burton changed the tones of their heroes and modernized their settings, something Marvel strongly objected to.
Arad was just the company's mouthpiece and got caught turning a 60s comic into an early 2000s film.
Mario is tricky, not having a plot to speak of.
BUT, go all Wreck it Ralph on it and it could be great.
Imagine, Super Mario RPG with cameos and all.. as a film.
It was already in 3D.
It had tons of new characters.
Mario and Bowser fought AND teamed up.
The Princess was a fighter and there were some wonderful comedic and emotional hooks.
Rewrite that story and I think it could be phenomenal.
I remember that years ago Nintendo had plans to make their own animation division, but it seems that did lead to nothing.
I dunno, man. A wacky CGI flick that starts in Mario's early carpentry days, his loss of Pauline and starting a plumbing business with his brother, arcade Mario Bros. providing the warp to the Mushroom Kingdom, leading to the events of the original Super Mario Bros... could be pretty cool.
I don't really worry about this because there is noone Nintendo will go through with Sony after all that happened in the last couple of weeks. Nintendo is already scared. This won't help!
Would love to see a mario movie and a zelda one also!!
pixar should make it.sony sucks with there movies like cloudy with a chance that this sucks 2 and TASM......
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