Former Marvel Studios boss Avi Arad has revealed that he is currently in negotiations with Nintendo to produce an animated feature film of ‘Super Mario Bros.’ for Sony Pictures.
The news came out of ongoing coverage by Buzzfeed News initially stating that Arad landed the deal to make a ‘Super Mario Bros.’ animated film, which the site came across by way of a leaked email exchange from the recent Sony Pictures hack between Arad and Sony Chief Amy Pascal.
“I am the proud father of mario the animated film [sic],’ Arad said to Pascal in an email that had been dated October 23 of this year, with a subject line reading ‘Mario.’
This was then followed by Arad sending Pascal images of him with Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata, which included a message saying ‘Happy CEO, let’s get together, it’s the mother load [sic].’
Pascal then forwarded Arad’s email to Tom Rothman, head of Sony Pictures subsidiary TriStar Pictures. “Avi closed Mario brothers,” she said to Rothman. ‘Animated.’
Then on October 24, Arad sent an email to Sony Pictures Animation President of Production Michelle Raimo Kouyate thanking her for a gift basket she sent him filled with Mario merchandise.
Kouyate responded with an email saying ‘Thank you Avi! ‘Let’s build a Mario empire!’ She also sent a photo of Arad’s gift basket to Pascal, and said ‘I can think of 3-4 movies right out of the gate on this. So huge!’
While initial coverage from Buzzfeed reported that the deal was confirmed, Arad sent an email denying that the deal had been closed. He asserted that his negotiations with Nintendo “were just beginning.”
As far potential directors for the possible ‘Super Mario Bros.’ film, there was mention from a leaked email from Pascal suggesting that it be directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, best known for his work on the recent ‘Hotel Transylvania’ and cult-classic Cartoon Network ‘Samurai Jack’ series. However, a representative from his camp denied his involvement.
There has not been a single big budget film based on a Nintendo property since their first and only one, which came in the form of the live-action ‘Super Mario Bros.’ back in 1993. And with how that film faired among fans and critics, it is clear to see why Nintendo hasn’t sought to do anything with the film industry in quite some time.
What do you think of the possibility of a ‘Super Mario. Bros.’ animated film? Would you watch it? Let us know in the comments below!
Source: Buzzfeed News
