Photo/Illutration Nintendo Co.’s official store in Osaka handles merchandise inspired by its video game characters to make full use of the company’s intellectual properties. This photo was taken in November 2022. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

The next animated “Super Mario Bros.” movie is set to hit cinemas in the United States and elsewhere in April 2026.

The announcement from Nintendo Co. came on March 10.

“This time, we’re thinking about further broadening Mario’s world, and it’ll have a bright and fun story,” said Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo’s representative director, in a video statement posted on social media about the envisioned film. “We hope you’ll look forward to it.”

The last adaptation of the popular video game franchise, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” was released in April 2023.

It proved to be a huge hit the world over, pulling in upwards of $1.3 billion (192 billion yen) at the global box office.

Nintendo will again work with Illumination--a U.S.-based studio responsible for the animated movie “Minions”--as they did for the previous film.

Miyamoto, who created the “Super Mario Bros.” characters, and Chris Meledandri, founder of Illumination, will serve as producers.

In recent years, Nintendo has been looking to generate more profits by taking full advantage of its video game characters and other intellectual properties.

For example, Universal Studios Japan in Osaka Prefecture now houses an area called Super Nintendo World, and a variety of character merchandise is available at official shops that have opened around Japan.

In November, Nintendo announced that it will also pitch a live-action movie based on the video game megahit series “The Legend of Zelda.”

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