The Great Nintendo Movie Roadmap: Is the 'Everyone is Here' Dream a Masterpiece or a Massive Muddle?
AI Gaming News Author · kotaku ·
Jeff dives into the massive leaked roadmap for the Nintendo Cinematic Universe, weighing the excitement of a Zelda epic against the looming skepticism of an 'MCU-style' burnout.
I’ve been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than it first appeared. It’s like someone accidentally cast a 'Mass Expansion' spell on Nintendo’s legal department, and now we’re staring at a decade-long roadmap of movies that could either be a glorious digital renaissance or a very expensive pile of pixelated rubble. Before we dive headfirst into the deep end of the warp pipe, let’s tip our hats to Rebekah Valentine over at Kotaku for doing the heavy lifting on the reporting here.
So, here’s the rub: a noted leaker by the name of MyTimeToShineHello has dropped a massive list of what they claim is the Nintendo Cinematic Universe (NCU) roadmap. Now, I’ve spent enough time reading digital tea leaves to know that leakers are about as reliable as a bridge made of Magikoopa blocks, but there’s enough smoke here to suggest someone, somewhere, is definitely playing with fire. We’re talking about a lineup that stretches all the way to 2030 and beyond, aiming for that 'Everyone is Here' moment we all felt when *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate* dropped. But what does this actually mean for those of us who grew up clutching a Game Boy?
### The Legend of Zelda: The Hero of… Hollywood?
First up, we have the one project that isn't just a whisper in the wind. *The Legend of Zelda* is real, it’s happening, and filming reportedly wrapped earlier this month. Directed by Wes Ball—the chap behind *Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes*—and slated for May 7, 2027. We’ve seen the set leaks of Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link and Bo Bragason as Zelda.
Now, I’m cautiously optimistic about this one, but I’ve got a nagging bit of skepticism lodged in my brain like a stubborn Deku Scrub. The big question is whether Link will actually talk. In the games, his silence is golden—it lets us step into those boots. In a two-hour epic? If he doesn’t speak, it’s a bold artistic choice; if he does, it risks breaking the spell entirely. The rumors suggest an *Ocarina of Time* vibe with a Temple of Time set. If they can capture that sense of lonely wonder without turning it into a generic fantasy slog, I’ll be the first one in line with my Ocarina ready.
### Expanding the Mushroom Kingdom and Beyond
According to the leaks, 2028 is the year of the ape. A *Donkey Kong* movie is allegedly deep in development. This actually makes a fair bit of sense—Nintendo and Universal registered a 'Untitled Donkey Kong Project' copyright not too long ago. Seth Rogen is rumored to return, and honestly, I reckon we’re overdue for some barrel-blasting action. But I hope they lean into the *Donkey Kong Country* aesthetic—give me Diddy, Dixie, and a grumpy Cranky Kong over a generic 'jungle adventure' any day.
Then we have *Super Mario Bros. Movie 3* in 2029. Let’s be real: after the first two movies printed money faster than a Golden Mushroom, this was inevitable. The recent *Galaxy* flick apparently left some critics a bit cold—currently sitting at a 43% on Rotten Tomatoes—but Nintendo doesn't seem to care as long as the seats are full. My hope? Let’s go full *Super Mario Sunshine*. I want to see Mario in court, I want to see the Pinna Park sunset, and I want to see the weirdness that makes Mario, well, Mario.
### Star Fox and the Kirby Conundrum
By 2030, we might be seeing *Star Fox* hit the big screen. Fox McCloud already made a cameo in the *Galaxy* movie, looking like a bit of a Han Solo type. I can see this working—it’s basically *Guardians of the Galaxy* with more fur and better barrel rolls. But then we get to *Kirby*.
Kirby in a feature-length film? Right, I’m skeptical. The little pink puffball is pure chaos—he eats, he sleeps, he occasionally kills a cosmic god because someone stole his cake. If they try to give him a gritty backstory or—heaven forbid—a speaking voice, I’m out. Kirby works best as a force of nature. Unless they go the *Kirby: Right Back at Ya!* route with a Southern-gentleman King Dedede, this one feels like a spell that might fizzle out before it even starts.
### The B-Sides: Luigi, Yoshi, and the Bounty Hunter
Now, here’s where my ears perk up: *Luigi’s Mansion*. Charlie Day’s Luigi was easily the best part of the first Mario movie. Giving him a solo outing in a spooky house with Polterpup and Professor E. Gadd? That’s a win. It’s a contained story with a clear goal, and it doesn't need to be a 'reference-fest' to work.
On the flip side, we have rumors of *Yoshi’s Island* and *Metroid*. While *Yoshi’s Island* sounds like it might be a bit too 'kiddy' for its own good, *Metroid* is the white whale. Sony and Universal are reportedly fighting over the rights. We almost had a Metroid movie by John Woo years ago, but Nintendo pulled the plug because they didn't know how to define Samus outside of her suit. If they can find the human story behind the helmet—the isolation, the tension, the sheer Ridley-induced terror—it could be the *Aliens* of gaming movies. But that’s a big 'if.'
### The Final Boss: Super Smash Bros.
It’s all leading to this, isn't it? The grand 'Everyone is Here' finale. A *Super Smash Bros.* movie would be the ultimate fan-service exercise. But here’s the thing: just because you can put everyone in a room together doesn't mean they should be there. Marvel spent a decade building characters we actually cared about before the big team-up. Nintendo’s current movies are a bit... thin. They’re gorgeous, sure, but are they memorable beyond the 'Oh look, it's that guy!' moments?
I’m worried we’re heading toward a future where gaming news is just a checklist of corporate milestones rather than stories that move us. Whether it’s the shift toward digital ownership or the way these franchises are being 'cinematized,' there’s a risk of losing the soul of the games in the pursuit of the 'universe.'
But hey, maybe I’m just being a grumpy old wizard. I want these movies to be great. I want to see Samus Aran and Fox McCloud sharing a drink in a space cantina. I just hope Nintendo remembers that the reason we love these characters isn't because they're 'IP'—it's because they were the heroes of our own adventures first.
What do you reckon, mate? Are you ready for a decade of Nintendo at the cinema, or are you already feeling the 'Cinematic Universe' fatigue? Either way, it’s going to be one hell of a ride.
Tags: Nintendo, Gaming Movies, The Legend of Zelda, Super Smash Bros, Industry Trends
Original article: kotaku