The Super Mario Bros. Movie saw Nintendo and Illumination partner up for a cinematic adaptation of the popular plumber, an icon of the video game medium. From reports it sounds as if the animated feature debut of Mario and Luigi internationally has been a triumphant success, with the movie apparently on the cards for having one of the biggest opening weekends ever for an animated movie. (For those wondering, an animated movie based on the Super Mario Bros. did release in 1986 with 'Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach!' but this was a Japan-only release.)

It makes you wonder why it took Nintendo this long, but perhaps it's understandable since the last movie to star the plumber brothers – 1993's live-action dud – was a huge bomb. But the new movie looks like it's a hit with audiences, and since other video-game-turned-movie adaptations have proven successful, it has fans wondering if Nintendo could go on and make more of this trend. After all, the Kyoto-based giant has many more beloved characters up its IP sleeve.

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The concept of an extended cinematic universe has been popularised by Marvel, of course, with its characters turning up in multiple movies as well as TV series, and been picked up by rival studios such as DC. A cinematic universe based on video game series hasn't yet been done so there's space, and fans are already imagining such a thing.

Over on the CasualNintendo subreddit, one fan posted: "My Prediction of the Nintendo Cinematic Universe". To illustrate their prediction was their photoshopped image in the style of the MCU, showing "Phase 1" of this Nintendo-themed movie universe. It's quite the bonanza for fans of the company's games and characters.

The picture, which isn't an official Nintendo image (sorry fans), is rather fanciful and shows Detective Pikachu 2 being part of this "NCU", as well as the likes of Zelda and Starfox. Perhaps Starfox would be the Guardians of the Galaxy-style part of this imagined cinematic universe. Metroid and Super Smash Bros. is also part of the overall picture. And it's certainly fun to entertain the idea and how it all might slot together.

"No way Kirby isn't in Phase 1", someone said, in a popular comment. "And Donkey Kong Country came a reply. A more considered response, and there are a significant number, went into it deeper.

"I'm not sure if they would know what to do with Kirby so early on", commented FenexTheFox. "It's a game with fully established universe and lore, it won't do with the same simple predictable plot the Mario movie had. For me it's more likely for them to make a complete reboot of the anime, since that already saw success before, and it can develop the story more."

The CasualNintendo fans are certainly giving it some thought. As for Nintendo, the company has been keeping its cards close to its chest, with Shigeru Miyamoto and Illumination not ruling out future pictures. Time will tell but considering the success of the Super Mario Bros. Movie it wouldn't be a surprise to see future movies in its vein.

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