That Super Mario animated film is really happening with the studio behind Despicable Me

Mario + Minions?

At Nintendo’s corporate management policy briefing tonight, we learned some interesting tidbits about where the company is going. We found out its paid online service is coming this September and that Mario Kart is going mobile with Mario Kart Tour. Nintendo ended the briefing by talking about the different ways the company has broadened the visibility of Nintendo IPs through cereal you can’t you find in stores and non-gaming merchandise GameStops shove into every single inch of available floor space.

To wrap up the presentation, Nintendo confirmed a rumor we told you about not too long ago: there really is a new Super Mario movie on the way. 

Nintendo and Illumination are partnering on a movie starring Mario, co-produced by Shigeru Miyamoto and Chris Meledandri! pic.twitter.com/wVRPLIzcGJ

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 1, 2018

Information is scarce, but what we do know is the film is a collaboration between Nintendo and Illumination Entertainment, the studio behind all those Minions films my nephew drags me to. The film is being co-financed by Nintendo and Universal Studios and co-produced by Shigeru Miyamoto and Chris Meledandri of Illumination. Universal will distribute the film.

No release date, writer or director has been announced but I can’t imagine it’ll be that long before we find out. Illumination has four films announced for the next three years with an additional four planned that are currently untitled. Assuming the company doesn’t break from its schedule to make this film, the earliest we’ll be able to see it in theaters will be 2021.

I don’t know if the film will be good or if it will be bad. All I know is if they don’t hire Charles Martinet to voice Mario, there will be hell to pay!

Corporate Management Policy Briefing [Nintendo]