The excitement keeps growing with each new trailer and poster from Illumination’s upcoming The Super Mario Bros. Movie. It’s been a while since Nintendo's most famous plumber's last silver screen appearance, and this time, it’s all in for the Mario Bros., as every new trailer and poster gives away a new character from the expanded roster.

At this point, there is no doubt that the upcoming movie is setting up for an expanded Nintendo Universe, as we have seen moments that reminisce of games where Mario is not the sole protagonist. Other popular franchises such as Donkey Kong and Mario Kart have shown signs of life in the teasers available so far, implying the idea that this film will be the cornerstone for many to come. In the end, we can expect multiple video game franchises to make appearances, and there is surely more to come.

The idea is enticing and attractive for many fans out there, yearning to see multiple entries of this universe come to life, similar to the MCU’s packed calendar of movies. However, video games and cinema have a complex relationship, and Mario’s bet for this one might be the most ambitious so far. There’s no doubt that Nintendo and Illumination’s partnership might pull this one off seamlessly if they play their cards right, but there is a lot at stake, and we might want to keep in mind other successful previous experiences (and others not as fortunate) to see how things may work out for the Nintendo’s mascot.

The Balance Between Originality and Respecting the Lore

Super Mario Bros Movie Donkey Kong
Universal Pictures

In contrast to what seems to be the upcoming movie, Sonic the Hedgehog, the plumber’s old nemesis in the '90s console wars, took an ironically slower pace to build in its expanded universe. Sonic’s first movie kept things simple in terms of video game references. Sonic and Dr. Robotnik were the only beloved characters from the game that appeared in the movie.

With massive success and hints of Tails for the second entry, the franchise decided to go for the expansion, with Knuckles entering the scene and the promise of Shadow for the third installment. At this point, probably Sonic is probably better suited for TV and movies, but baby steps had to be taken to make him become the subject of an expanded universe. The blue blur among other characters paved the way for Nintendo’s mascot to make this new attempt.

Related: 6 Video Game Movies that Walked so the Super Mario Bros. Movie Could Run

The Super Mario Bros. Movie seems to be going in the exact opposite direction. Betting on a more Chip N’ Dale approach, fans will have to keep their eyes open in April 2023 to spot every cameo in the film. However, this bet seems to be grounded in previous experience.

The movie from 1993, an almost complete live-action disaster long before the Mushroom Kingdom became a universe itself. It took a more conservative path, drawing less inspiration from the NES entries and trying to create a more bizarre underworld that left audiences bewildered. It’s safe to assume that the lesson was learned, and this time, with almost half a century of history behind, Illumination’s portrayal takes a U-turn and plays the fan service card.

How Much Fan Service Is The Right Amount?

Mario and Luigi in The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Universal Pictures

To measure the ambition of the film is to evaluate the target audience and how hard it is to please them. A fan service-based movie is risky in many ways, as fandom is usually demanding in terms of quality. Initial backlash for Chris Pratt’s rendition of the plumber showed the reactive side of fans who cannot think of Mario without Charles Martinet’s voice.

There is no doubt that the movie’s cast is a careful selection of well-known movie stars: Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, and Charlie Day, to name a few. This decision is, in a way, a balance between fandom and more casual audiences, as casting memorable actors from other films may draw viewers familiar with the stars and strange to the Mario universe.

Related: Will The Super Mario Bros. Movie Launch the Nintendo Cinematic Universe?

In this complex path of creating a catch-all movie for wider audiences, many elements fall in the fan service category. The music itself is pure homage to most classical games. Furthermore, the fact that Mario Kart made it to the trailer makes fans dream of a Super Smash Bros. crossover.

However, movie franchises don’t thrive only on diehard video game groupies. Illumination and Nintendo seem to be well aware of this and are trying to stride for greatness without making a fans-only film. The final dilemma is probably their most feared one: a movie that tries to please everyone and falls short on both sides. In that sense, the feature film might benefit from low expectations, so it can surprise the audiences, but hyping it up with more and more character reveals might be in the opposite direction.

One thing is for certain: cinema theaters will be packed in April 2023 for the opening week to see the Mario Bros. take a new stand on the movie business. A fairly good performance at the box office will ensure a sequel, whereas a raving hit can guarantee an expanded cinematic universe. So, in response to the initial question, the Super Mario multiverse is very ambitious and feasible, yet viewers will decide whether this will come true or if we should just stick to playing with Mario on our Nintendo systems.