Nintendo announced on Thursday that Universal Studios’ subsidiary Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me, Minions, Sing) has begun planning an animated film adaptation of Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. game franchise.
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.
Nintendo is already collaborating with Universal Studios to produce Nintendo attractions for its Universal Studios Japan, Universal Orlando Resort, and Universal Studios Hollywood theme parks.
Illumination Entertainment founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and Nintendo Representative Director, Creative Fellow, and Super Mario Bros. creator Shigeru Miyamoto are credited as producers for the project.