It's been a full year since we first heard rumblings that the studio behind Minions was working on a Super Mario Bros. movie. Today, more details on the project have been confirmed.
Speaking with Variety, Illumination head Chris Meledandri detailed his plans for the upcoming project. It's going to be an animated feature, and it's tentatively planned for release in 2022.
Perhaps most importantly of all, Meledandri said he's working closely with Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto to ensure that the movie is as accurate as possible.
"We are keeping him front and centre in the creation of this film," Meledandri said. "I've rarely seen that happen with any adaptation where the original creative voice is being embraced like we're embracing Miyamoto. There's a history in Hollywood of people believing that they know better than the people responsible for a property. I've made that mistake before."
Further, the studio head added that the disastrous 1993 Super Mario Bros. movie actually makes the adaptation a little bit easier. "I like that this was not done well the first time," he said. "I think that's more exciting or more worthy than simply making another version of a film that was done incredibly well to begin with."
Of course, it's still a massive undertaking.
"It's an ambitious task," Meledandri said. "The challenge is taking things that are so thin in their original form and finding depth that doesn't compromise what generations of fans love about Mario, but also feels organic to the iconography and can support a three-act structure."
Stay tuned for more information on the film as it becomes available.
Speaking with Variety, Illumination head Chris Meledandri detailed his plans for the upcoming project. It's going to be an animated feature, and it's tentatively planned for release in 2022.
Perhaps most importantly of all, Meledandri said he's working closely with Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto to ensure that the movie is as accurate as possible.
"We are keeping him front and centre in the creation of this film," Meledandri said. "I've rarely seen that happen with any adaptation where the original creative voice is being embraced like we're embracing Miyamoto. There's a history in Hollywood of people believing that they know better than the people responsible for a property. I've made that mistake before."
Further, the studio head added that the disastrous 1993 Super Mario Bros. movie actually makes the adaptation a little bit easier. "I like that this was not done well the first time," he said. "I think that's more exciting or more worthy than simply making another version of a film that was done incredibly well to begin with."
Of course, it's still a massive undertaking.
"It's an ambitious task," Meledandri said. "The challenge is taking things that are so thin in their original form and finding depth that doesn't compromise what generations of fans love about Mario, but also feels organic to the iconography and can support a three-act structure."
Stay tuned for more information on the film as it becomes available.