Nintendo announces sequel title during Direct
Nintendo and Universal Pictures have confirmed that the sequel to the record-breaking “Super Mario Bros. Movie” will be titled “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.” The announcement came during Friday’s Nintendo Direct, just ahead of the 40th anniversary of the original “Super Mario Bros.” game, released on September 13, 1985.
The animated sequel is set to hit theaters worldwide on April 3, 2026, distributed by Universal and Illumination.
First teaser hints at space adventure
The Nintendo Direct opened with a short teaser: Mario naps under a tree near Princess Peach’s castle as the camera pans skyward into outer space. Viewers caught quick glimpses of fan-favorite elements from the games:
- Monty Mole burrowing underground
- Cheep Cheeps swimming in a stream
- Toads bustling around the castle grounds
The imagery strongly nods to the galaxy-spanning theme, directly tying into the 2007 Wii classic Super Mario Galaxy, which was widely praised for reinventing platforming gameplay with gravity-defying mechanics.
Returning voice cast confirmed
The original film’s star-studded cast will reprise their roles:
- Chris Pratt as Mario
- Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach
- Charlie Day as Luigi
- Jack Black as Bowser
- Keegan-Michael Key as Toad
- Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek
This continuity will likely reassure fans who helped propel the first film into global box office history.
A record-breaking first outing
Released in April 2023, The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a runaway hit:
- Grossed $1.36 billion worldwide
- Became the highest-grossing video game adaptation ever
- Currently ranks as the fifth-highest animated film of all time, behind Ne Zha 2, Inside Out 2, The Lion King (2019), and Frozen 2
The film followed Mario and Luigi, two Brooklyn plumbers who are transported to the Mushroom Kingdom, where Mario must join forces with Peach, Toad, and Donkey Kong to rescue Luigi from Bowser.
Nintendo’s growing cinematic universe
Nintendo is expanding beyond Mario. The company has teamed with Sony Pictures for a live-action “Legend of Zelda” movie, set for release on March 26, 2027, with Wes Ball (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) directing. Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will star as Zelda and Link, respectively.
This dual rollout of Mario and Zelda films suggests Nintendo is taking deliberate steps toward creating its own cinematic universe to rival Marvel and DC—one built around its most iconic video game properties.
TL;DR
The sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie has been officially titled “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” and will release on April 3, 2026. Announced during Nintendo Direct, the film teased cosmic themes inspired by the 2007 Wii game. The original cast returns, and with Mario Bros. already a $1.36 billion blockbuster, Universal and Illumination aim to turn the franchise into a long-term animated juggernaut.
