Nintendo's Mario could return to the big screen

Is Nintendo icon Mario ready for another jump on to the big screen?

During an interview with Japanese outlet Asahi Shimbun, Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima said the video game publisher is negotiating with several movie companies for a partner to create films based on their properties.

Kimishima says Nintendo expects to release the first films featuring their characters within a few years.

This would not be the first time a Nintendo character has appeared in movie theaters. In 1993, the film Super Mario Bros. hit theaters, with Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo playing brothers Mario and Luigi respectively. But it was widely considered a flop.

However, the timing might be better for Nintendo's return to film, with several other video game properties receiving the big screen treatment, including this week's launch of The Angry Birds Movie, based on the hit mobile game, and Warcraft next month.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.