Nintendo has rebranded its Warpstar, Inc subsidiary as Nintendo Stars and tasked the new-look division with supporting and strengthening its transmedia projects.
In a note to investors published on August 27, the Japanese company said Nintendo Stars has been made responsible for “the ancillary-use business tied to films that feature Nintendo Intellectual Property.”
In other words, Nintendo Stars will support Nintendo’s growing movie roster through merchandising efforts, licensing, events, and other means.
Nintendo brought its famous plumber to the big screen in 2023 with the release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie—an animated flick developed in partnership with Minions creator Illumination Pictures.
According to Nintendo, the movie earned an estimated $1.35 billion at the international box office and was watched by 168.1 million people. The company has since announced another animated movie based on the Super Mario Bros. franchise that is currently slated for release on April 3, 2026.
A live-action film based on The Legend of Zelda is also in development and is due to hit theatres on May 7, 2027.
Nintendo Stars will strive to support the company’s ongoing push into Hollywood while continuing to tend to the Kirby franchise.
The company was established in 2001 as a joint venture between Nintendo and long-term collaborator HAL Laboratory to oversee Kirby merchandising and external media, such as the Kirby: Right Back at Ya! anime series. Nintendo took full ownership of Warpstar earlier this year and has now outlined its vision for the subsidiary.