Are Nintendo Planning To Start Making Movies?
When the games aren't selling, why not try to conquer the big screen?
Word has recently broken the surface that Netflix are developing a live-action show based on The Legend of Zelda. Last year, Nintendo released a compilation of short films featuring their Pikmin characters. Avi Arad has been pursuing the feature rights to Super Mario Bros. There's obviously something going on, as Nintendo have never been so active in spinning off their video games for old-fashioned, passive, button-free entertainment. In a recent earnings report, now translated into English, Nintendo's President Satoru Iwata made it very clear that the game company were looking to broaden the horizons of the content they produce. Actually, he's not talking about just broadening Nintendo's horizons but those of all entertainment. Amazingly lofty talk. Here's a direct quote; "Our strategy for the next 10 years is to change the definition of entertainment and expand the area that Nintendo can do business in, and with this strategy, I believe we can capitalize on our strengths." Expanding the area in which Nintendo does business probably translates into more Netflix series, short films and features. Due to cinema's place at the top of the entertainment food chain, I can see movies being a big part of this. There are obviously no concrete details about what Nintendo are planning, but if they were seriously entertaining Avi Arad - and they were, the craziacs - then they're no doubt talking to all sorts of producers. So expect to see a Super Metroid movie sometime in the next few years. This isn't a promise, more a betting tip, but I'd put my shirt on this.