The Super Mario Bros. movie directors head to Netflix
Overview & Key Takeaways
Netflix signs big deal with Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath (The Super Mario Galaxy Movie) for new animated movies and TV.
Netflix has struck a deal with Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath, the directors behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, to develop new content for the streaming service, the company announced Tuesday. The directing duo will develop animated series and films exclusively for Netflix, with first-look rights for live-action projects.
Jelenic and Horvath are also the creators and producers of the Teen Titans Go! series based on DC Comics characters. Both Teen Titans Go! and The Super Mario Bros. Movie were big hits for Netflix. Seasons 1-5 of Teen Titans Go! and Teen Titans Go! To the Movies racked up more than 80 million views on Netflix from 2023 to 2025, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a global top 10 hit for 24 weeks, garnering over 240 million views from December 2023 through the end of 2025.
"After the massive success of The Super Mario Bros. movies and Teen Titans Go! on our service, it’s clear our global audience craves their unique brand of storytelling," said John Derderian, Netflix’s vice president of animation series and kids and family TV. "We are thrilled to embark on this partnership and can’t wait to see what they dream up next for Netflix members."
Aaron Horvath (left) and Michael Jelenic (right)
Photo: Netflix
"We are thrilled to partner with Netflix to create captivating and immersive series and films over the coming years," Jelenic and Horvath said in a shared statement. "We are grateful for the opportunity and look forward to entertaining the world's largest audience!”
Jelenic previously worked at Warner Bros. Animation, and served as a writer on The Batman and as a producer on the series ThunderCats and Teen Titans Go! He also co-wrote "Peaches," the breakout hit song sung by Bowser (Jack Black) in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Horvath directed and oversaw animation on Teen Titans Go! while at Warner Bros. and developed Cartoon Network's Unikitty.
It's unclear whether Jelenic and Horvath's deal excludes them from working on future Nintendo and Illumination animated movies. The two animated Super Mario movies have thus far grossed more than $2.3 billion at the box office. Nintendo and Illumination have another project on the books scheduled for release in 2028, but official details on that film have not been announced.
Animated content has been huge for Netflix, including the global hit KPop Demon Hunters and the recently released Swapped, both of which broke records for the streamer. There's little doubt that Jelenic and Horvath's The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will also find a strong reception when it inevitably makes its way to Netflix.
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