Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto thinks it's a given that Mario will be around for years to come, as the series can constantly evolve.
In the Nintendo Museum Official Book celebrating the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. (transcribed and reported on by VGC), Super Mario Bros. director Shigeru Miyamoto, designer Takashi Tezuka, composer Koji Kondo, and programmer Toshihiko Nakago were asked if they think Mario can remain popular until the game's 100th anniversary in 2085.
