Nintendo's newest rebranding hints that additional films might be in the pipeline

This morning, Nintendo released a press statement to announce that Warpstar is being rebranded as Nintendo Stars Inc. Warpstar became a subsidiary of Nintendo in April 2025, and it has now “undergone restructuring to function as a Nintendo affiliate tasked with handling the secondary business operations related to films that incorporate Nintendo Intellectual Property (IP).”

To put it plainly, Nintendo is establishing a specialized unit for its film endeavors. Thus far, we’ve had the 2023 release “The Super Mario Bros Movie,” along with a sequel set to debut in April 2026. Additionally, there’s the upcoming live-action Legend of Zelda film, scheduled to hit theaters on May 7, 2027.

Given the triumph of the original “The Super Mario Bros Movie,” it’s hardly unexpected that Nintendo is planning more films. The movie generated over $1.36 billion in global box office revenue. This made it Illumination’s highest-earning film ever and the top-grossing movie of 2023. The next two Nintendo films are expected to achieve comparable success, especially given the enthusiasm surrounding The Legend of Zelda.

The press release notes, “By executing and licensing various secondary applications in films, Nintendo Stars Inc. seeks to make Nintendo IP familiar to people across the globe and offer fresh ways to engage with it.”

This prompts the question: which other Nintendo properties are deserving of their own standalone movies? Donkey Kong springs to mind immediately, following the launch of Bananza. Star Fox, with its deep and detailed lore, would also be a strong candidate. There’s even potential for a racing series based on F-Zero. There are numerous possibilities, but it remains uncertain what Nintendo will pursue next.

Nintendo’s press release concludes by stating, “Moreover, Nintendo Stars Inc. will continue the secondary business operations of the Kirby franchise that WARPSTAR, Inc. had been involved in. By leveraging the expertise developed through this business, Nintendo Stars Inc. aims to broaden the number of people with access to Nintendo IP through collaboration with global partners and strengthen the connection between Nintendo and its customers.”