The Super Mario Bros. Movie is set to be a fun animated romp starring many mainstays of the classic video game franchise. If this film does well, it's likely that Nintendo will continue the concept, branching out for numerous other concepts, stories and spinoffs in the Super Mario universe.
So far, all fans know about the Mario movie are a handful of characters and the studio in charge. Exactly nine characters have been revealed, the Mario Bros., Peach, Toad, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Cranky Kong, Kamek, and Foreman Spike. This being Mario's first return to the screen in decades, and likely to be much closer to the source material than the live-action film, the story is likely to be fairly straightforward plumbers rescue princess stuff. Despite that, the characters, world, and background have the potential to provide a launchpad for multiple new concepts to hit the screen.
Donkey Kong
Among the Mario family, Donkey Kong is the most ripe candidate for a spinoff. Donkey Kong was around when Mario was introduced, in fact, Cranky Kong is the ape that tossed barrels at the plumber way back in the very beginning. The fact that both those characters make an appearance suggests the possibility that a future film could depict the Kong family in greater depth. Donkey Kong went on to a world of solo content and a dynamic cast of allies and enemies. The Donkey Kong Country series, which has spanned from the SNES to the modern day, could serve as a wonderful source for a fun action-comedy about talking animals battling over bananas. The chance to see Diddy Kong and King K.Rool hit the big screen just can't be passed up.
Luigi's Mansion
The Luigi's Mansion trilogy is the rare opportunity for Nintendo to explore the world of horror. Its simple plot, in which Mario's cowardly brother Luigi acquires an enigmatic mansion that is absolutely bursting with ghosts. Mario finds himself trapped within the house, so Luigi must face his fears to rescue him. Luigi teams up with mad scientist Professor E. Gadd, who arms him with a vacuum cleaner capable of capturing rogue spirits and sends him through the haunted house to catch ghosts and save his brother. This is a massive outlier in the Nintendo catalogue, providing a very interesting tone that could carry a film. A family-friendly horror comedy film about a cowardly sidekick forced to fend for himself as an amateur Ghostbuster is a can't miss idea.
Captain Toad
Introduced in Super Mario Galaxy, Captain Toad is a friendly ally character who aids Mario in a variety of small ways. Captain Toad is the leader of the Toad Brigade, a group of mushroom-headed fellows who generally help Mario accomplish his goals, typically just by holding onto power-ups for him. The underrated Captain Toad: Treasure Trove is a puzzle game that puts this friendly NPC in the main character seat, seeking treasure and rescuing his friend, Archivist Toadette from a monstrous bird. Captain Toad is an explorer and a treasure hunter, who is known for his orienteering skills, but he's also a bit cowardly and often prefers to be a helper than a hero. The character has not gotten a ton of exposure, but the idea of an Indiana Jones-style treasure hunter in the Mario universe is genius. It offers a chance to explore corners of the Mushroom Kingdom which Mario would never find himself in, and to center the film on a less established hero.
Mario Kart
One of the most popular racing games of all time just happens to be the brilliant Mario Kart series. With hit after hit from 1992 to the modern day, the Mario Kart games are among the best-loved party games ever made. While there isn't much of a story to be had in the franchise, the basic outline of a go-kart race between these classic video game characters could be a very solid jumping-off point. Perhaps the best inspiration would be the world of racing anime, like the exhilarating Redline. A cartoon racing film in the mold of Speed Racer, in which the plot is based around a series of increasingly bizarre tracks and challenges could be a frenetic delight.
Paper Mario
One of the most outstanding accomplishments in the field of storytelling ever made by Nintendo occurred in 2004's Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door. The Paper Mario franchise is essentially an alternate universe plotline featuring similar characters from the primary series and innovative RPG gameplay. The series is, however, most impressive by its leaps in the story department. It has an anarchic sense of fun, wildly placing Mario and his friends in outlandish situations, from pro-wrestling leagues to mafia weddings. The games manage to feel absurdist, hilarious and yet, inextricable from the Mario universe. While the early games, especially Thousand Year Door, are the strongest narratives, the entire series does incredible things with the franchise. A Paper Mario movie could be a truly groundbreaking film, bringing a group of fantastic characters to screen and redefining the brand in the hearts of audiences everywhere.