Nintendo, Universal and Illumination confirmed a highly anticipated sequel to their blockbuster animated hit: the film will carry the title The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and opens in theaters on April 3, 2026. The announcement came during a Nintendo Direct presentation held ahead of the 40th anniversary of the original Super Mario Bros. (released Sept. 13, 1985), and the reveal kicked off with a short, atmospheric teaser that set the tone for a space-spanning adventure.
Teaser Moment: familiar sights, a hint of the stars
The teaser opens on a quietly familiar image — Mario asleep beneath a tree, Princess Peach’s castle visible in the distance — then lifts away from the Mushroom Kingdom and drifts up into space. Quick, playful flashes give fans more to speculate on: a Monty Mole tunneling underground, Cheep Cheeps splashing through a stream, and Toads bustling around the castle. The imagery made clear the sequel will draw directly from Nintendo’s 2007 Wii classic Super Mario Galaxy, which lends the movie its name and inspiration.
Returning cast and continuing the animated world
The film reunites the all-star voice cast from the 2023 original. Chris Pratt returns as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad and Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek. Universal and Illumination will again handle distribution and production, keeping the sequel firmly in the same creative family as the record-breaking first film.
Why this sequel matters: the first film’s box-office legacy
The original The Super Mario Bros. Movie proved a cultural and financial phenomenon when it debuted in April 2023. It earned an astonishing $1.36 billion worldwide, making it the most successful video game adaptation to date and placing it among the top-grossing animated films ever released. That commercial triumph gives this follow-up strong momentum and high expectations — and the Galaxy theme signals an opportunity to expand the franchise’s imaginative scope.
What the story will likely revisit (and what to expect)
While full plot details remain tightly held, the first film’s framework — two Brooklyn plumbers thrust into the Mushroom Kingdom and forced to team up with Princess Peach, Toad and allies like Donkey Kong to rescue Luigi from Bowser — established the characters and tone. With Galaxy drawing on the space-faring adventures of the Wii games, expect more cosmic locales, gravity-defying platforming set pieces and new characters drawn from Nintendo’s rich catalogue.
Nintendo Direct: a wider slate of Mario titles for Switch 2
The movie reveal formed part of a larger Nintendo Direct that celebrated Mario’s 40th anniversary and outlined a slate of games aimed at the new Switch 2 hardware. Key announcements included:
- A Galaxy compilation: Nintendo will release a collection that bundles Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 for Switch (and playable on Switch 2). The company hinted at updated visuals and added storybook pages for Rosalina, though it did not give a firm launch date during the show.
- Mario Tennis Fever: A new powered-up sports entry coming to Switch 2, featuring 38 playable characters, “Fever” rackets that unlock special moves, and an adventure mode where baby Mario characters learn tennis and take part in mini-games. Nintendo set Feb. 12 as the release date for this title on Switch 2.
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Switch 2): The Switch 2 version of the 2023 platformer will include Meetup in Bellabel Park, a side area filled with minigames for local competition. Nintendo scheduled this enhanced edition for next spring.
- Yoshi and the Mysterious Book: A new Yoshi platformer — glimpsed briefly during the Direct — centers on Yoshi and a magical book. Nintendo showed a small slice of gameplay and promised more details in the coming months; the game is slated for Switch 2 next spring.
A year of celebrations — and more Nintendo on the big screen
Nintendo framed these reveals as part of a year-long celebration for Mario’s 40th anniversary, which officially begins on Sept. 13. The company hinted at additional Mario-themed surprises to come, giving fans plenty to look forward to across both games and cinema.
Beyond Mario, Nintendo also confirmed another big-screen project on the horizon: a Legend of Zelda film in partnership with Sony Pictures, directed by Wes Ball and scheduled for March 26, 2027, with Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth attached as Zelda and Link. That announcement underscores Nintendo’s broader strategy of expanding its most iconic franchises into large-scale theatrical experiences.
