13 September 2025 — Nintendo and Illumination have officially announced the sequel to their 2023 blockbuster, The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The film, titled The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, will hit theatres on April 3, 2026, bringing Mario and his friends on a cinematic voyage into space inspired by the 2007 video game Super Mario Galaxy.
The announcement was made during a celebratory Nintendo Direct stream, timed with the 40th anniversary of the original Super Mario Bros. game’s Japanese launch in September 1985. Nintendo producer Shigeru Miyamoto described Galaxy as the “main event” of Mario’s 40th anniversary, confirming that while the film will draw heavily from the Galaxy games, it will also include nods to various eras of the Mario franchise.
All-Star Cast and Returning Creative Team
The film will bring back the original voice cast from the first movie, including Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, and Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek. Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic are also returning, along with screenwriter Matthew Fogel and composer Brian Tyler.
A teaser released during the announcement shows Mario resting in a field in the Mushroom Kingdom, a butterfly fluttering nearby, before the view pans up into space—a clear nod to the galactic themes fans of the game know well. While substantial plot details remain under wraps, the teaser suggests an expansion of the setting beyond the Mushroom Kingdom and possibly more adventure elements that leverage the cosmic backdrop.
Franchise Success Spurs Expansion
The first Super Mario Bros. Movie was a massive success, grossing over US$1.3 billion globally—making it one of the most financially successful video game film adaptations ever. This sequel’s announcement underscores Nintendo and Illumination’s strategy to build on that momentum and further expand Mario’s cinematic universe.
The sequel appears designed not only as fan service but as a wider cultural event. Alongside the film, Nintendo is re-releasing the original Super Mario Galaxy game (and its sequel) for newer hardware like the Switch and Switch 2, tapping into nostalgia as the Mario franchise marks four decades of influence.
