The Nintendo Cinematic Universe Is Upon Us
The pieces are beginning to come together on what could very well be the Nintendo Cinematic Universe and Mario voice actor Chris Pratt says he’s very much on board with the idea. Falling in just behind Barbie, and dominating other gargantuan titles like Oppenheimer, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and Fast X, last year’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie was the second biggest earner at the global box office. Could this foreshadow what’s to come from the gaming studio down the line? It certainly seems like it.
Pratt Wants The NCU
Following the incredible success that the animated The Super Mario Bros. Movie enjoyed in 2023, the studio was quick to green light a follow-up production which is expected to race across theater screens in 2026.
From here, the sky’s the limit, with Chris Pratt in hopes that the sequel could kick off a chain of events that would lead to a Nintendo Cinematic Universe. In a recent interview, Pratt, a self-described “Nintendo head,” said he’s long thought about how the NCU could become a reality and that he’s been excited to discover exactly what that “could look like for all of these characters that I love.”
Is There Already An NCU?
In all reality, aside from coming straight out and naming it as such, Nintendo has already started its own Cinematic Universe. Along with the two animated Mario movies, there was the 2019 flick, Detective Pikachu, with Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes helmer, Wes Ball, already making moves to develop a Legend of Zelda film.
Meanwhile, audiences are on the edge of their seats waiting for the day that other beloved characters like Star Fox and Kirby receive their silver screen makeovers – or maybe even a full-on Super Smash Bros. movie? The possibilities are endless.
Pratt Has Cinematic Universe Experience
If the Nintendo Cinematic Universe did come to life, it would mark Chris Pratt’s second foray into territory of the kind as, up until last year’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, he appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The actor has recently shown interest in returning to the role of Star-Lord and also wants to dip into Guardians-helmer James Gunn’s DC Extended Universe. Could Chris Pratt become the ruler of all franchises? Only time will tell but he’s certainly making all the right connections.
Nintendo Is Already Surpassing Marvel And DC
Cinematic universes like Marvel and DC have certainly made sense for both studios over the last few decades, particularly with the MCU’s big boom via 2008’s Iron Man. Since then, both comic-book-centered franchises have duked it out year after year, title after title, to see who will come on top at the box office.
But, because The Super Mario Bros. Movie dethroned them both last year, it’s possible that it would do the same damage if Nintendo decided to move towards cinematic universe territory.
The NCU Seems Inevitable
With Disney revealing its plans to lean more on already-built stories and characters, and both Marvel and DC continuing to churn out movies about the heroes that we love, the idea of a Nintendo Cinematic Universe isn’t far-fetched.
Because the fanbase is already built-in, there’s no doubt that audiences would flock to their cinemas to see their animated favorites play out feature-length plots on the big screen.
Source: Screen Rant
