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Nintendo To Continue Delivering Movies Beyond Live-Action Zelda, Unsurprisingly
Nintendo plans to keep making films with partners after the live-action Zelda movie, due on 30 April 2027. President Shuntaro Furukawa said the company will carefully develop each film and establish a framework for ongoing production, signalling a longer-term commitment to cinema.
Furukawa said the animated Mario films have earned more than US$2 billion worldwide combined. Nintendo believes they have introduced Mario to new audiences, including people in regions where its games have had limited reach and people who do not usually play games. Further projects have not been confirmed, and the first Zelda film has yet to be released.
In short
- Nintendo plans films beyond the Zelda adaptation.
- The live-action Zelda film is due in April 2027.
- Mario films have passed US$2 billion at the box office.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Continuing to make films could help Nintendo reach people who do not play its games, build on the Mario films’ commercial success and create new ways for audiences to connect with its characters. A careful, ongoing production framework may let the company develop projects at a considered pace while giving its partners and audiences greater continuity.
The case against
A longer-term film commitment carries creative and financial risks: success with Mario does not guarantee that other characters or formats will resonate, and a production framework could encourage projects before there is a strong case for each one. Since the Zelda film has not yet been released and no further projects are confirmed, Nintendo could wait for its reception before committing to a continuing slate, preserving resources and flexibility.