Wario Movie Possibility: Miyamoto Leaves Door Open for Wario in Nintendo/Illumination Films
Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo's veteran game designer, has indicated that Wario could still appear in future Mario films produced in collaboration with Illumination.
Miyamoto made the comments in a recent interview with Crack-In, where he discussed how Nintendo approaches humor and audience age when adapting its IP for the big screen.
The Super Mario Bros.
Movie, produced by Illumination and released on April 5, 2023, demonstrated the commercial potential of Nintendo films when it grossed over $1 billion worldwide and became one of 2023's top-grossing releases.
Miyamoto framed his creative stance around respect for young audiences, explaining that he treats children as capable viewers rather than relying on crude or "dirty" jokes to provoke laughter.
He said he does not want to depend on low-brow humor for kids and has instructed Illumination leadership to avoid that approach.
At the same time, Miyamoto explicitly left open the possibility of including Wario in future projects, noting that action sequences provide a common emotional ground for both adults and children and can help create an engaging family film.
In journalistic terms, Miyamoto conveyed that children should be treated as "young people with less experience," and that Nintendo has made a deliberate choice to steer away from ribald humor in its cinematic collaborations.
He added that emphasizing action—rather than cheap jokes—can produce a movie that appeals across generations, and on that basis, characters like Wario remain viable candidates for future screen appearances.
Wario is a long-standing Nintendo character who first appeared as an antagonist in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992) and later headlined his own Wario Land and WarioWare series across Nintendo platforms.
The Mario franchise itself remains one of Nintendo's flagship properties across hardware like the Nintendo Switch and legacy systems, and Nintendo has continued to support the brand through game releases, Nintendo Direct presentations, and the eShop digital storefront.
Miyamoto's comments arrive in the wake of Illumination's successful adaptation of Mario for film and continued public interest in how Nintendo's properties will be translated to cinema.
For now, Wario's inclusion remains possible but unconfirmed; Miyamoto's remarks emphasize tone and cross-generational appeal as deciding factors rather than a firm casting commitment.
Sources: Crack-In interview with Shigeru Miyamoto; The Super Mario Bros.
Movie release and box office reporting; historical game release records for Wario.
Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo's veteran game designer, has indicated that Wario could still appear in future Mario films produced in collaboration with Illumination.
Miyamoto made the comments in a recent interview with Crack-In, where he discussed how Nintendo approaches humor and audience age when adapting its IP for the big screen.
The Super Mario Bros.
Movie, produced by Illumination and released on April 5, 2023, demonstrated the commercial potential of Nintendo films when it grossed over $1 billion worldwide and became one of 2023's top-grossing releases.
Miyamoto framed his creative stance around respect for young audiences, explaining that he treats children as capable viewers rather than relying on crude or "dirty" jokes to provoke laughter.
He said he does not want to depend on low-brow humor for kids and has instructed Illumination leadership to avoid that approach.
At the same time, Miyamoto explicitly left open the possibility of including Wario in future projects, noting that action sequences provide a common emotional ground for both adults and children and can help create an engaging family film.
In journalistic terms, Miyamoto conveyed that children should be treated as "young people with less experience," and that Nintendo has made a deliberate choice to steer away from ribald humor in its cinematic collaborations.
He added that emphasizing action—rather than cheap jokes—can produce a movie that appeals across generations, and on that basis, characters like Wario remain viable candidates for future screen appearances.
Wario is a long-standing Nintendo character who first appeared as an antagonist in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992) and later headlined his own Wario Land and WarioWare series across Nintendo platforms.
The Mario franchise itself remains one of Nintendo's flagship properties across hardware like the Nintendo Switch and legacy systems, and Nintendo has continued to support the brand through game releases, Nintendo Direct presentations, and the eShop digital storefront.
Miyamoto's comments arrive in the wake of Illumination's successful adaptation of Mario for film and continued public interest in how Nintendo's properties will be translated to cinema.
For now, Wario's inclusion remains possible but unconfirmed; Miyamoto's remarks emphasize tone and cross-generational appeal as deciding factors rather than a firm casting commitment.
Sources: Crack-In interview with Shigeru Miyamoto; The Super Mario Bros.
Movie release and box office reporting; historical game release records for Wario.