A METROID Movie Is Reportedly in Development at Nintendo
Nintendo’s Hollywood era keeps getting bigger, and now one of its most iconic and intense franchises might finally be making the jump to the big screen.
According to industry insider Daniel Richtman, Nintendo has reportedly begun development on a Metroid movie. The information surfaced on Richtman’s Patreon before spreading across social media, and while official details are still under wraps, the rumor has fans fired up.
As of now, there’s no studio, director, or cast attached, but the early word suggests the film could pull inspiration from the Metroid Prime era. That alone opens the door to a much darker and more atmospheric Nintendo movie than what audiences are used to seeing. Nothing has been confirmed, so take it with a grain of salt.
Just over a month ago, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond launched and landed solid reviews. After a long and bumpy development cycle, the game delivered the moody environments, clever puzzles, and memorable boss fights the series is known for.
Some critics wished for deeper combat and a more complex story, but overall it successfully reignited interest in the franchise. With Prime 4 reminding everyone why Metroid rules, a movie adaptation feels like the right next move.
For anyone who hasn’t spent time with the series, Metroid has been a core part of Nintendo’s lineup since 1986. It mixes sci-fi, isolation, and exploration in a way that often draws comparisons to Ridley Scott’s Alien, which feels especially appropriate considering the franchise’s dragon-like villain Ridley.
The games follow bounty hunter Samus Aran as she explores hostile alien worlds, hunts space pirates, and unravels galactic mysteries, usually without much dialogue. The Prime trilogy, which kicked off in 2002, shifted the action to a first-person perspective while keeping the tension and loneliness that define the series. If the film leans into that tone, it could end up being something pretty special.
As for casting, names like Brie Larson and Charlize Theron keep popping up as potential picks for Samus, but I doubt that will be the direction they go. Personally, I think there are better options out there.
This isn’t the first time a Metroid movie has been teased. Back in the early 2000s, there were talks about a version directed by John Woo, but nothing ever came of it. More recently, insiders claimed Universal might be interested in the rights as part of a growing Mario cinematic universe.
Nintendo has already confirmed more films are on the way following the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 2023 and the upcoming live-action Legend of Zelda project. A Metroid movie fits neatly into that larger plan, especially if Nintendo wants something that appeals more to older fans.
Of course, a lot likely depends on how future Mario and Zelda films perform. Until Nintendo makes an official announcement, this remains a rumor. But, a Metroid movie would introduce Samus Aran to a whole new audience while giving longtime fans the sci-fi action they’ve been craving.
And while we’re dreaming big, It’s be interesting to see all of these Nintendo films eventually collide in a bonkers Super Smash Bros. movie!