Nintendo Planning ‘Consistent Release Cadence’ For More Video Game Movies, Following Super Mario Galaxy and The Legend of Zelda Films

Nintendo plans to release further video game films at a “consistent” rate following the launch of next year’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and 2027’s The Legend of Zelda.

In a presentation to investors today, Nintendo said it was “building a framework for a consistent release cadence” of movies, built on the success of 2023’s breakout hit The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Next year will of course see the arrival of a sequel to that film, which is scheduled to arrive on April 3. This will then be followed by a live-action The Legend of Zelda adaptation in 2027, and beyond that… Well, today Nintendo suggested it had at least a couple of other ideas in the pipeline.

In a slide showing posters for the three movies mentioned above, Nintendo indicated it had at least a couple more film projects planned for launch within the next few years.

“We are continuing to prepare for the ongoing release of movies in the future,” Nintendo simply said of its future plans. But the suggestion of more movies already being planned has set fans’ tongues wagging.

So, what else could we see? Well, Nintendo currently seems keen to build on its universe of Mario characters — at least some of whom will be headed into space within The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. But while Seth Rogen’s Donkey Kong will still feature, fans have long expected the character to eventually get his own spin-off — something Rogen has said he’s keen for, and Nintendo recently filed a copyright notice to protect.

The release of a recent Pikmin short film underlines Nintendo’s keeness to continue growing that particular franchise — could a full movie follow? Or perhaps Nintendo will look to its other top-tier franchises after Mario and Zelda, and attempt to launch another?

An animated Fire Emblem film? A live-action Metroid? An Animal Crossing horror movie where Tom Nook collects his debts, shovel in hand? The possibilities are endless — as long as Nintendo can repeat its Super Mario Movie success. After all, for now it has secured just one box office hit — though the company is clearly banking on more to follow, and sooner rather than later.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social