Nintendo’s Upcoming Film Re-Emergence Must Succeed, Here’s How It Could Happen!

Back in August, Nintendo’s most esteemed creative genius, Shigeru Minamoto, entertained the possibility of expanding the company’s beloved properties onto the silver screen; capitalizing on the perfect time to bring legendary characters to life. The Fortune article brought hope, wonder, and fear, to the hearts of Nintendo fans the world over.

Over the past decade, the global phenomenon of aggressively translating superheroes from comics into billion dollar blockbusters brings to light a concept that was once unheard of in the past. It is undeniable that the superhero genre has ostensibly flooded the modern film market.

However, even the greatest of floods eventually dry up: what to do then?

A common criticism that has been brought up is that unlike comic books, video games are to films as driving a Ferrari is to watching Nascar. Mr. Miyamoto even commented in an interview with Fortune at E3, stating “Because games and movies seem like similar mediums, people’s natural expectation is we want to take our games and turn them into movies. … I’ve always felt video games, being an interactive medium, and movies, being a passive medium, mean the two are quite different.”

First, don’t reinvent the entire franchise. There are easily identifiable moving parts within the iconic franchises of Nintendo that can be applied to existing thematic machines that audiences can easily grasp; a process that is far simpler than you’d think.

Don’t stray from the foundation of the story: a hero of humble origins travels to strange new worlds to save a princess. It doesn’t need to be anymore complicated to be a successful film. That story description applies to Star Wars, Super Mario Brothers or an endless list of franchises, but the underlying foundation is a sense of timeless adventure.

Second, for the love of God, get a hold of yourselves Nintendo.

There are a myriad of reasons why 1993’s Super Mario Bros. failed, and you can read all about it in the lengthy tell-all Console Wars ​by Blake J. Harris (which we review right here). One of the greatest factors however, was a loss of creative control behind the minds with an intimate knowledge of the material; drawing yet another similarity between Marvel and Nintendo.

Denying Marvel’s ability to create a successful juggernaut of a cinematic universe would be absurdly obtuse. It’s vital to understand however, that their success stems from their uncanny ability to maintain creative control and a succinct driving vision over their properties. Regardless of the flaws their films, television, and streaming content may have, the majority of their content works thematically, tonally, and generates a profit.

For fans of Marvel, they have been rewarded with the iconography of what once was on the page, successfully represented on the screen. Perhaps the key this time around is for Nintendo to keep a firm hold on the reins.

Undeniably, Marvel has developed a formula that works for their scope of beloved characters and stories, and the next closest company to follow in their footsteps not only can be, but should be, none other than Nintendo.

In the near future, whether by design or decrease in audience demand, the superhero machine will run out of steam. In the wake of one genre, an opportunity will arise for the next wave of mass marketable media. Something new, but familiar.

Something with a nearly infinite amount of characters and content to mine.

Something, that at its most basic level encourages us to keep exploring, keep fighting, and keep pushing forward until we claim the prize.

The next wave of cinematic pop culture niche is building, and Nintendo should be planning to ride it into shore when it begins to crest.