Nintendo Expands Beyond Consoles With Mario and Zelda Movies

Nintendo is executing a strategic pivot to expand its intellectual property beyond traditional gaming hardware, moving into the film and television sectors to reach audiences that do not interact with the company through consoles.

This shift is driven by the recognition that the console market has inherent limits. Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario, stated on April 2, 2026, that there is a ceiling to the number of people who can be reached through Nintendo’s systems and consoles.

Miyamoto indicated that digital streaming and current technology provide a way to evolve alongside digital media, moving the public perception of the company from wondering What kind of game is Nintendo going to come up with now? to wondering What kind of world Nintendo will expand on now.

A Proactive Production Strategy

Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa has confirmed that the company is taking a proactive approach to these visual media adaptations. Rather than simply licensing its intellectual property to external production firms, Nintendo is deeply involved in the production process and provides investments as necessary.

This hands-on strategy is intended to maintain authenticity and quality, mirroring the collaboration with Illumination for the original Super Mario Bros. Movie, which earned over $1.3 billion USD worldwide.

The overarching goal of this expansion is to increase the number of people with access to Nintendo IP, which the company believes will continuously invigorate its core integrated hardware-software business as hardware growth stabilizes.

Upcoming Cinematic Slate

The company’s expansion into cinema includes several high-profile projects:

• The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (also referred to as The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2), released in April 2026.
• A live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda, scheduled for May 2027.
• Various other unnamed projects in the film and TV space.

Early box office estimates for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie suggest a strong start, although critical reception has not matched that of its predecessor. The film includes two post-credits scenes, which suggests that Nintendo and Illumination are preparing for future installments in the franchise.

Beyond these announced titles, there is speculation regarding other franchises such as Metroid, Kirby, or Donkey Kong receiving similar treatments, though Nintendo has not officially confirmed specific titles for these projects.

Evolution of Corporate Roles

The shift toward a broader entertainment model has altered the internal roles of Nintendo’s leadership. Shigeru Miyamoto has transitioned into a more senior role that focuses less on direct game development and more on the expansion of franchises.

Miyamoto’s current responsibilities include shaping the Mario and Zelda films as well as overseeing Super Nintendo Land theme park attractions. His recent appearances in Nintendo Direct broadcasts have focused almost exclusively on these non-gaming projects.

Miyamoto has noted that the cinematic evolution of characters allows them to connect with wider audiences, suggesting that younger fans may now form stronger connections with the cinematic version of Mario than with the video games.

So going from being able to have a touchpoint with Nintendo only through Nintendo consoles, we want to expand. We’ve been able to expand it so that they can have a touchpoint with Nintendo characters through various media.

Shigeru Miyamoto