The first Super Mario-themed park in the US is set to open this month

A guest takes a photo with Mario during a preview of Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, California. — Photos: AFP

Nintendo’s first theme park outside of its native Japan will open in California in the United States this month, just weeks before Mario gets the big-screen treatment in a major new Hollywood film.

Super Nintendo World will be part of Universal Studios Hollywood – an amusement park that is traditionally home to rides based on film and TV franchises from Waterworld to Harry Potter.