Summary
- Success of Super Mario Bros Movie sequel key for franchise’s future films.
- Donkey Kong’s world shown in movie is ripe for spinoff with a vibrant environment.
- Potential Donkey Kong spinoff could introduce more characters, deepen storyline.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie proved to be a monumental success both critically and commercially, with the 2023 film grossing $1.363 billion at the worldwide box office. That has led to Illumination already green-lighting a sequel, which is underway in development now as the franchise is set to continue.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie boasted an amazing cast, including Chris Pratt and Jack Black, who helped bring these iconic video game characters to life in a totally new way. That’s why there’s so much excitement building around the upcoming sequel, which is set to release in April 3, 2026, but there’s arguably even more potential with a spinoff movie for one specific character.
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The Super Mario Bros Movie Is Perfect For A Spinoff
The Super Mario Bros Movie did a terrific job of balancing the expectations that fans had heading into this film. There are so many amazing characters from this video game franchise that it was always going to be impossible to feature them all. Still, the chosen characters were great, and all of the supporting characters were given enough time to showcase their personality and the abilities they offer the world. That’s why there’s so much potential for spinoff movies because all of the characters were so vibrant and full of life that audiences want to see more from them. While Mario was at the heart of everything in this film, he wasn’t overpowering or dominating, and that’s something that could benefit this entire franchise moving forward.
Donkey Kong Is The World To Explore Next
Everyone enjoyed traveling through the pipes and visiting Bowser’s castle. Still, arguably, the most exciting period of The Super Mario Bros Movie was when the film visited the world of Donkey Kong. The setting was vibrant and exciting and felt like a genuine departure from what had been taking place throughout the rest of the movie, which is why it’s the perfect option for a spinoff. While the likes of Luigi and Princess Peach would be fantastic lead characters, they all feel too attached to Mario himself to the point where his absence might be distracting. That wouldn’t be the case with Donkey Kong because the character is arguably recognizable enough that it can go it alone in a stand-alone movie and draw people in. That world was only shown in a glimpse, but it was clear that there’s tons of potential for an amazing adventure that remains in that environment for the entirety.
Seth Rogen provides the voice of Donkey Kong, who is one of the biggest stars in The Super Mario Bros Movie ensemble cast, which is another positive sign as he’s a proven star. But there are also tons of other characters that could be thrown into this film. There weren’t many characters from the Donkey Kong franchise featured in this movie, but if a spinoff were to happen, then that’s where they could be added. Whether it’s Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, or Kink K. Rool, there is a plethora of characters who would all bring something totally different to this film that would make it exciting and would ensure it doesn’t all rely upon Donkey Kong himself.
The Super Mario Bros Movie 2’s Success Will Be Important For The Franchise
Ultimately, The Super Mario Bros Movie 2 will be getting released before any potential spinoff movie is green-lit, and while it’s positive that there’s no time being wasted in creating this movie, there will be pressure on it. The incredible success of the original proves that there’s an audience for these particular characters to get entertaining films on the big screen. Still, for more movies to be created, the sequel must succeed. If this ends up flopping then the first might be seen as a fluke, which would instantly make studio heads hesitant to push a spinoff film that doesn’t feature the lead character in Mario.
However, The Super Mario Bros Movie 2 will also provide an opportunity for Illumination to shine even more of a spotlight on the characters they believe could warrant a sequel. In a similar way to how the minions were given increasing screen time in the Despicable Me movies, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Donkey Kong as one of the characters to gain more opportunities in the sequel. If the movie was to revisit that world, then teasers could potentially be dropped for future movies with plot points that might be worth exploring in further detail. Donkey Kong is someone who brought comedy and power to The Super Mario Bros Movie, but it would also be easy to do a more vulnerable storyline with him, too, especially when bringing in other characters from that video game franchise. While people are always going to want more Super Mario Bros Movie content, exploring the characters outside of that would only flesh out the franchise even more.
6/10
- Release Date
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April 5, 2023
- Runtime
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93 minutes
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Chris Pratt
Mario (voice)
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Anya Taylor-Joy
Princess Peach (voice)
