Nintendo stunned fans around the world when it released a totally unexpected thirty second Super Mario movie trailer. The film, which is due to be released sometime in 2021, features the familiar characters Mario and Luigi navigating new challenges and defeats. It also features Princess Peach, Bowser, and the Koopalings. Nintendo has been tight-lipped on further details of the movie but it surely has everyone talking about what kind of adventure awaits the iconic brothers.
Significance
The release of this trailer is significant for Nintendo as it signals their commitment to expanding their franchises beyond just gaming consoles. By entering into the film market they are firmly establishing themselves as an entertainment giant. This isn’t Nintendo’s first foray into film as they previously produced Super Mario Bros: The Movie back in 1993 which failed to find an audience and was widely panned by critics.
This newest iteration appears to be following a more popular trend of adapting video game franchises into movies that have a chance at success. For example, films such as Tomb Raider (2018) and Assassin’s Creed (2016), both based on video games with similar characters transposed onto film settings, have been hits with both viewers and critics alike.
Hype
The fact that the trailer was released without any prior publicity has really got fans speculating about what could be included in the movie storyline. Social media platforms such as Twitter were filled with users sharing their theories about what this could mean for Mario’s future adventures. Some thought this could be a reboot of the series whilst others speculated if Bowser might finally get his hands on Princess Peach! The hype surrounding the film shows no sign of stopping anytime soon.
Nintendo are well aware of how to build anticipation around their products too; when they launched Super Smash Brothers Ultimate there