Miyamoto: A Super Smash Bros. Movie Isn’t Coming Anytime Soon

In a recent chat about the release of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Shigeru Miyamoto, the legendary creator of Mario, was asked if the film’s plethora of cameos hints at a larger Nintendo universe, sparking fan hopes for a Super Smash Bros.-style crossover movie. While he didn’t completely dismiss the idea, it appears that such a plan isn’t on the horizon just yet.

The first Super Mario Bros. Movie of 2023 was a delightful mix of nostalgia, primarily focusing on the core Mario world and featuring only a few familiar faces, like Donkey Kong. However, the sequel expands its horizons, introducing a variety of new characters from the Mario franchise, including Yoshi, Wart, and Rosalina, as well as cameos from Star Fox’s Fox McCloud and the beloved Pikmin. This has led many fans to speculate about the potential for a full-fledged Nintendo Cinematic Universe, complete with an Avengers-style Super Smash Bros. crossover that could unite iconic characters like Mario, Link, Zelda, Samus, and Kirby in one epic adventure. It certainly would be a wild ride, but it seems that’s not in the cards for now.

When asked about the possibility of an NCU, Miyamoto and Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri addressed the topic. Miyamoto stated, “Right off the bat, I’ll say that unlike something like Super Smash Bros., I don’t think you’ll have a situation where all Nintendo characters would be joining.” He elaborated on the inclusion of Pikmin, saying, “As you know, my rule is that Pikmin can appear in any [Nintendo] series.”

It seems the push for a broader range of characters came mainly from Illumination, with the studio frequently asking, “What about this character? What about that character?” Miyamoto described the decision to include various cameos as a way to “add a little bit of spice, a little bit of secret cameos here and there.”

So, can we expect more character introductions in the future? Miyamoto hinted, “I think there might be introductions of characters like this potentially in the future,” leaving fans with a glimmer of hope.

Meledandri reinforced that there isn’t a grand ten-year plan for the franchise. Instead, the focus is on crafting each movie with specific scenes in mind, asking themselves, “What would be fun within a certain scene in the movie?” This approach certainly explains the energetic and sometimes chaotic nature of the films.

Regarding the inclusion of characters from Super Mario Bros. 2, like Birdo and Wart, Miyamoto shared his fondness for these long-forgotten characters, showing that nostalgia still plays a significant role in the creative process.