Detective Pikachu has finally arrived in theaters, but could a widespread internet joke lead to a live-action Super Smash Bros. film? There’s no denying the appeal of Nintendo’s Smash series, as the all-star fighting game is packed with crossovers from Nintendo’s vast library of IP. The franchise has expanded to a point now that it’s a “who’s who of gaming,” and even the latest entry in the series, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, has begun broadening its reach through downloadable content.
Despite films like Avengers: Infinity War being dubbed the most ambitious crossover event in history, Super Smash Bros. could easily challenge that claim. Given the scale of the latest game’s over 75-character roster - some of which aren’t even owned by Nintendo - and the immense sales success of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, it’s clear how broad the reach is for the franchise. Keeping that in mind, and given the monumental success of Avengers: Endgame at the box office, how would that same premise transfer over to a live-action Smash Bros. film in the shadow of Detective Pikachu?
Screen Rant recently had the opportunity to speak with the writers behind Detective Pikachu, Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit, where we asked them how they’d approach a Smash Bros. film. As the duo informed us, it’s less on the actual crossover film itself and more in the build-up to the event, noting that a strong foot forward with a The Legend of Zelda movie and others would be their first focus. Hernandez said:
Samit added, “Avengers: Endgame is only as good as it is because we loved all of those characters individually, so when it came together it was just magic. And I think that’s how you have to approach the Smash Bros.” It’s clear that Hernandez and Samit would be the pair to get the nod for such a task if there’s demand for a Nintendo Cinematic Universe in the future. As it stands, the pair may have their hands busy with future Pokemon films, though. Nothing has been officially detailed on what fans of Detective Pikachu can expect moving forward, but there are a few directions that the live-action take on Pokemon could go.
“I think that the key to doing anything like that is to make sure that the other introductory movies are sensational. It’d be a dream to write something like Legend of Zelda, but before you can get to that Smash Bros stage you have to write the best damn version of The Legend of Zelda that you possibly can. And the same with Mario, the same with Kirby, the same with Star Fox.”
Additionally, Detective Pikachu has received strong reviews and is widely believed to be successful at the box office, despite the fact that Avengers: Endgame is likely to overtake it. This should only help push Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures’ take on Pokemon as a viable cinematic universe. Of course, the next steps for the series are still unclear, but it’s fun to learn how Smash Bros. would fit into those plans from the scribes behind Detective Pikachu.
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