One of the very biggest exclusive early scoops ever by yours truly has just been confirmed by Mario Movie voice actor, Chris Pratt. This is a big deal.
We now know why Nintendo has been so careful with how it allows Hollywood to manage its characters in the upcoming Mario Movie… as well as why Illumination and Universal have acquiesced. Everyone is working very hard to get this right, not alienate fans, and see the kickstart of something big done in the right way.
As many of you know, I exclusively broke news that The Mario Bros movie is not just a one-off film or the beginning of a series of Mario sequels. No, it’s a much larger, much grander plan. Instead, this is the beginning of an attempt to craft a Marvel-sized cinematic universe aimed at multi-generations of fans. And all of it will be under an umbrella of Nintendo characters. The Japanese company is extremely careful, therefore, that the characters be treated with respect and away from controversy. After all, this is the launch of something unparalleled with a combining of vast video game properties and an attempt to translate it into a complimentary movie universe.
So where is this going?
Well, Chris Pratt has essentially just inadvertently spilled the beans and said the secret out loud. A decades-long Nintendo Cinematic Universe is on the way.
“The movie really honors the video game. It honors the world of Mario and is very promising as to what we could expect over the next 10 years like an entire universe of these types of movies. They’re super nostalgic. They’re really fun. It’s Illumination, so they know what they’re doing.”
As I have said before both here on That Park Place and on the WDW Pro Channel, Disney stepped off the throne as the dominant hand in animation. Now, other companies are filling that void. Only, when it comes to Nintendo, they have the established character roster to overtake Disney for years and years to come. If you’re looking for multi-generational, animated icons that could drive viewership for years and years, there’s Mickey, Mario and Sonic. And two of those just might appear together in an Avenger’s-style Smash Bros Movie one day. I, for one, cannot wait.
For all the latest news that should be fun, keep reading That Park Place. As always, drop a comment down below and let us know your thoughts!


