The Buzzfeed website reported in 2014 that Nintendo was in talks with Sony Pictures for film rights to the Super Mario Bros. franchise.
Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel directed the 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros. film starring Bob Hoskins, John Leguizamo, and Dennis Hopper.
Meledandri is co-producing the film with Super Mario Bros. creator Shigeru Miyamoto.
The Wall Street Journal and The Hollywood Reporter both reported last November that Illumination Entertainment was “close to an agreement” with Nintendo to produce an animated film based on Super Mario Bros., with talks reportedly ongoing for more than a year.