Sony Pictures and Nintendo are in negotiations to produce a new animated Mario Bros. movie. The possible deal was revealed in leaked emails between Sony's Amy Pascal and producer Avi Arad.
It first appeared that the two companies had already closed the deal but later on Arad denied this info and said the negotiations were "just beginning".
In one of the emails Sony Pictures Animation president of production Michelle Raimo Kouyate expressed faith on the possible movie franchise by sending Arad a Mario merchandise-filled gift basket with the text: "Let's build a Mario empire! -- I can think of 3-4 movies right out of the gate on this. So huge!"
Nintendo however has yet to comment on the rumour.
Last time Mario appeared on the silver screen was in 1993 in Super Mario Bros. It is often considered one of the worst video game to movie adaptations of all time. Knowing that, perhaps animated movies makes more sense...