Live-Action Samus? Two Studios War Over Metroid Film

Nintendo hasn't even released a trailer for its Zelda movie yet, and already the next adaptation is causing a fight. According to movie insider V Scooper, posted on X, Nintendo is actively pitching a Metroid film to studios, with Sony Pictures and Universal Pictures locked in a bidding war over the rights. Both are reportedly pushing for a live-action take on Samus Aran's story.

I've wanted this for years. Metroid is one of the few Nintendo IPs that could actually work as a serious, atmospheric live-action film. The franchise has always leaned closer to Alien than it has to Mario, and the idea of a proper sci-fi horror-action movie set in that universe is exactly the kind of thing Hollywood should be chasing instead of another generic superhero sequel.

The contradiction at the heart of this story is interesting, though. Universal already has a proven relationship with Nintendo through Illumination, which produced both Super Mario animated films. But V Scooper's claim that both studios want live action would effectively rule Illumination out, since Chris Meledandri's studio only makes animated features. So Universal would need to produce this through a different arm entirely, while Sony already has live-action Nintendo experience through the Zelda film, which wrapped filming and is set for a May 7, 2027 theatrical release.

Who Plays Samus?

V Scooper is considered a mid-tier source, listed as Tier 2 ("Approved and Mostly Reliable") on the Marvel Studios subreddit. But as WCCFtech noted, another insider, Daniel Richtman (DanielRPK), reportedly teased the same project a couple of months ago and added that the adaptation would feature the Metroid Prime storyline. That lines up neatly with the franchise's current momentum after the release of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

Casting speculation is already circulating. Brie Larson has expressed interest in playing Samus on multiple occasions, and she recently voiced Rosalina in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, so she's already in Nintendo's orbit. According to Metroid lore, Samus stands at 6'3 with blonde hair and blue eyes, which has led some fans to suggest Elizabeth Debicki as a closer physical match. I think either could work, but what matters more than casting is tone. Metroid needs to feel isolated, hostile, and claustrophobic. If whoever wins this bidding war tries to turn it into a quippy action blockbuster, they'll miss what makes the series special.

None of this is confirmed by Nintendo, and the pitch could still change direction or fall apart entirely. But the fact that two major studios are actively competing for it suggests this is further along than a casual "what if" conversation. Nintendo has clearly seen the numbers from the Mario films and the buzz around the Zelda adaptation, and Metroid is one of the few remaining franchises in their catalogue with cinematic potential. Sony producing a live-action Zelda while Universal handles animated Mario creates a natural lane for one of them to grab Metroid, and both apparently want it.

The Zelda movie's performance next May will likely influence how aggressively Nintendo pushes this forward. If Zelda proves that live-action Nintendo adaptations can work at the box office, a Metroid greenlight feels almost inevitable.