When video game movies are highlighted, there's often an air of negativity around the end results. The response to the Super Mario Bros. movie wasn't overwhelmingly positive in the '90s, and in broader terms we've seen commercial successes with Resident Evil but also a whole load of flops and films that aren't exactly masterpieces.
Turning a game into a film is clearly problematic; companies aim to get gamers on board - never an easy feat - while convincing non-gamers it's entertainment they want to see - that's also rather tricky. As part of efforts to get its IP more prominent in popular culture, meanwhile, we've seen Nintendo allow Bowser in Wreck-It Ralph, but also allow Donkey Kong to feature in the critically panned Pixels. Rumours of a Legend of Zelda Netflix series were dismissed, though Nintendo is teaming up with Universal Studios in an alternative theme park partnership.
It's one part of the company's drive to promote its brands, and on the topic of movies Fortune has shared comments from a summer interview - held way back at E3 - in which Shigeru Miyamoto discusses the potential role of the sector in the company's future.
We've had, over the years, a number of people who have come to us and said 'Why don't we make a movie together—or we make a movie and you make a game and we'll release them at the same time?'
Because games and movies seem like similar mediums, people's natural expectation is we want to take our games and turn them into movies. … I've always felt video games, being an interactive medium, and movies, being a passive medium, mean the two are quite different.
...As we look more broadly at what is Nintendo's role as an entertainment company, we're starting to think more and more about how movies can fit in with that—and we'll potentially be looking at things like movies in the future.
It'll be interesting to see how Nintendo's efforts in this area will progress in years to come. Microsoft is active in TV tie-ins, while Sony's efforts to produce an Uncharted movie have been hit be regular issues with finalising the script and even getting into production. It's a tough market to crack.
[source fortune.com]
Comments 36
I wouldn't mind seeing a new Super Mario Bros movie,but I think it should be in CGI and not live action
Just steer clear of Adam Sandler, Uwe Boll & Paul W. S. Anderson and it could be alright.
I can't think of any video game film that is decent, let alone amazing. Still waiting on that Metal Gear Solid film though, that could be pretty decent if executed well, which is no easy task. The only way would be to have Kojima himself be heavily involved if not directing.
I think a movie based on one of Nintendo's Ip can be successful, but they should be very involved in the project. If they simply allow a study to use their IPs as they see fit, I fear we will end with a Super Mario Bros. Movie 2.0
Super Mario Bros. 2 starring John Leguziamo and Samantha Mathis! I'm ready, Nintendo!
@Shy_Guy CGI would be a much better fit for Mario. Imagine if there was a Kirby movie that was live-action...
If Pikmin can make it work any IP can be made a film, short or otherwise.
@NintendoFan64 That would be terrible
I'd love to see a new Super Mario Bros. movie. The 1993 movie is one of my favorites.
If Nintendo actually helps (unlike the Mario movie shivers) then it could be good. A Majora's Mask CGI or Mario CGI could be interesting.
@Anon_Amous ace attorney directed buy miike is pretty good. I also enjoyed the street fighter series machinima produced.
NOOOO!!!!dont do it nintendo;just dont.i will get my hopes up every time just to be disapointed again and again and again.thats how it goes with videogame(and most animé) live action adaptations.
Full length Pikmin movie made under the supervision of Miyamoto would be good, the shorts are excellent.
@NintendoFan64 I believe that live action Kirby movie you are referring to is Silence of the Lambs.
But where will Mario work now Brooklyn has been gentrified?
I think Nintendo would be good at licence gaming.
We need a CGI Pikmin movie where you can really feel the stakes Olimar has on his hands. And the epic boss fight scenes would be great. Pixar, get on that!
I hope they they would be more animated then live-action because live action is usually just trash, only Metroid and maybe Zelda or Fire Emblem would work with that but Id prefer TV-style cartoons.
The problem I have with putting Mario into another Movie is that the story generally isn't that important in a Mario game, so could be difficult to get right in a film.
Legend of Zelda could be different though. The story is more significant in those games, so it could be fun to see. Live action probably won't look right for the Zelda world, so CGI seems best for it. Nintendo, make this happen
@ManateeBlubber I think a Pixar Pikmin movie would be fantastic. It has the different kind of setting and story that's unique like in Wall-E
@Hero-of-WiiU
But do they voice the characters? Or unvoiced like the Pikmin short films? Or do they voice characters but just not the Pikmin?
I'd pay just to see a feature length version of the Mario Sports games cutscenes. If Wall-e can get by with almost no dialog, so can Nintendo.
Mag dog McCree (not sure of spelling) way ahead of its time! Game and movie!!
@Hero-of-WiiU agree!!
Aww, I thought they were actually doing a Netflix Zelda... Oh, well. As far as a Mario movie. CGI and nothing else. And I would like to do it in the vein of Super Mario RPG. Loosely based, but still somewhat relevant. Besides. Nintendo still owes us an HD Mario RPG, anyway...
I'd like a metroid tv series in the same style as Farscape. They've already worked with the Jim Henson Company and had some muppets made, so the relationship is already there.
Animated maybe, but not live action.
I want a Kid Icarus movie that has the credit rolling after 1 hr, making audience got up from their seat to leave only to realise they have been fooled.
Nintendo can make a great movie if they applied the tricks they used on gamers all these decades.
I'd much rather see Nintendo on Broadway.
I could see either as a movie or preferably a stage show a remake of the Wizard, and it could be great if it were to lampshade the things that made the original so corny and terrible.
What would make a good movie based from their IP? I could think of a few.
Like say, Metroid, Eternal Darkness, Advance Wars, Fire Emblem and Zelda.
Can we just have a Fire Emblem anime please?
I don't even know what Nintendo IP would make for a decent film, but there are many I can see working in TV format. I wish those Pikmin and Kid Icarus shorts had been extended out to proper series, even if it was a Netflix original or whatever.
Even the really weird stuff like FreakyForms could make for a nice primary school show. It is basically digital fuzzy felt.
I loved the Professor Layton movie, but most other movies based on video games have been awful. I could see some good movies based on Nintendo franchises in the future, though.
I enjoyed the first Mortal Kombat movie. One of the few times Hollywood got it right.
@crimsontadpoles "the story generally isn't that important in a Mario game, so could be difficult to get right in a film"
...just adapt an RPG
"live action wouldn't work for the Zelda world"
How so? I'd prefer if it were live action, it could be taken more seriously than a CGI movie.
Silly lighthearted properties like Mario, Kirby and...Earthbound would work on CGI, but not more serious ones like Fire Emblem, Zelda, F-Zero ("serious") or Metroid. They would have to shove a ton of stupid jokes and whatnot into trailers to attract children and their parents.
Mario - CGI
Zelda - Live action
Metroid - LA
Kirby - CGI
Earthbound/Mother series - CGI
F-Zero - LA
Star Fox - ...uh...
Kid Icarus - CGI
@Melkac I figured they would make a Zelda film light hearted since it's Nintendo, though a more serious live action film does sound awesome now you mention it.
My only worry was with the visuals, such as making the fantasy world look believable and making the characters look like characters and not just people dressed up. However, I was completely forgetting about other fantasy films such as Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter where the visuals look great.
@crimsontadpoles They shouldn't have any trouble if they embrace the Twilight Princess aesthetic. Nintendo can (will) help anyone that actually tries to make a Zelda movie.
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