Update: Illumination’s CEO and producer on The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Chris Meledandri, has denied the reports of a film adaptation of The Legend of Zelda being in the works in an interview The Wrap.
Meledandri said, ““I don’t know where that came from. I mean I can understand how people would surmise all sorts of things because obviously, we’ve had a great experience working together. My relationship with Nintendo now includes being on their board of directors, so I understand how people can surmise these things. But in terms of the specifics, that was just something that I’ve been hearing lots of reports. This is just about what’s next between Nintendo and Illumination.”
Original Story: At this stage, given the runaway success and billions of dollars raked in by The Super Mario Bros. Movie, I don’t think it would surprise anyone at all to learn that Nintendo’s cinematic ambitions are far from quenched. Also given how gripped by Zelda fever the world still is following the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it’d be similarly unsurprising if the next film from Nintendo was a Hyrulian effort.
Well, according to film reporter, Jeff Sneider, that’s exactly what’s happening. Speaking to the Hot Mic podcast, Sneider reckons that a “great source” has tipped him off that Nintendo is putting plans in motion to once again tap the House of Minions, Illumination, to produce a movie based this time on The Legend of Zelda.
“From what I’m told, getting close to official, I’m told that Universal is in fact closing a quote ‘big deal’ with the Nintendo Corporation for the Legend of Zelda,” Sneider claims.
“Zelda will be, is looking like the next big Illumination-Nintendo franchise – which again, I think we were all sort of expecting – but I’m told that that is happening and it’s costing Universal a pretty penny because of the success of Super Mario, Nintendo kind of knows its worth at this point, but yeah, I’m told that that is now going to be a reality.”
The Super Mario Bros. Movie Review – A Nostalgia-Fuelled Romp For Everyone
Of course, as easy to believe as that is, it’s far from an ironclad revelation, but from the sounds of it if this continuation of Nintendo and Illumination’s partnership proves real we’ll probably be hearing about it from official sources sooner rather than later.
As it stands, The Super Mario Bros. Movie has claimed an unquestionable win as the biggest film of 2023, becoming the second highest-grossing animated film of all time and raking in over $1.3 billion USD since it premiered in cinemas in April.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is available to pre-order for a physical release on July 5th, on DVD or a 4K/Blu-Ray combo at Amazon.
