The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Written byMatthew Fogel
Based onMario
by Nintendo
Produced by
Starring
Music byBrian Tyler
Production
companies
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • April 1, 2026 (2026-04-01)
Running time
98 minutes[2]
LanguageEnglish

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is an upcoming animated adventure comedy film based on the 2007 video game Super Mario Galaxy and its 2010 sequel, as well as Nintendo's broader Mario franchise. Produced by Illumination and Nintendo, and distributed by Universal Pictures, it is the sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023). Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic and written by Matthew Fogel, the film stars an ensemble voice cast consisting of Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, and Kevin Michael Richardson reprising their roles from the first film, with Benny Safdie, Donald Glover, Issa Rae, Luis Guzmán, and Brie Larson joining the cast. The story is set after the events of the first film with Mario and Luigi, and their friends adventuring to outer space where they meet Princess Rosalina and face off against Bowser and his son, Bowser Jr..

Nintendo's president Shuntaro Furukawa stated in May 2021 that Nintendo was interested in producing more animated films based on its properties if the then-untitled Mario film was successful. Illumination CEO and producer Chris Meledandri was asked about the possibility of a sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie before the film's release in April 2023. Following its box office success, a new animated Mario film was announced to be in development at Illumination in March 2024, with Horvath and Jelenic returning as directors and Fogel as screenwriter.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on April 1, 2026, by Universal Pictures.

Premise

Mario and Luigi meet and befriend Yoshi as they join Princess Peach and Toad on an adventure into outer space and across the galaxy. They meet Rosalina and face off against Bowser and his son, Bowser Jr.[3][4]

Voice cast

See also: List of Mario franchise characters

Additional roles include Luis Guzmán as Wart and Issa Rae as the Honey Queen.[7] Juliet Jelenic, daughter of co-director Michael Jelenic, returns as Lumalee, a nihilistic blue Luma who was held prisoner by Bowser in the previous film and now works as a prison guard,[8] while Ed Skudder voices R.O.B., a robot that works at Gateway Galaxy.[9]

Production

Development

In May 2021, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said that Nintendo was interested in producing more animated films based on its intellectual properties if the then-untitled Mario film was successful.[10] In a Variety cover story before the film's release, Illumination CEO and producer Chris Meledandri was asked about potential sequels, or projects adapted from other Nintendo properties, and answered, "Our focus right now is entirely on bringing the film out to the audience, and at this time, we're not prepared to talk about what's coming in the future."[11] The film's post-credits scene hints at a potential sequel featuring Yoshi.[12] Jack Black has expressed interest in Pedro Pascal being cast to voice Wario in the future film.[13]

In April 2023, following the film's box office success, Nintendo stated that there would be more films based on their properties, though they did not directly confirm a sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie.[14] In June 2023, Chris Pratt said a sequel would be announced "soon", but with the caveat that the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike would have an effect on the production.[15] In December 2023, Black expressed interest in the sequel being a musical titled Bowser's Revenge.[16] In March 2024, during a Mario Day presentation, Meledandri and series creator Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed development of "a new Super Mario Bros. movie", with Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic returning to direct, and Matthew Fogel also returning to write the screenplay; Meledandri stated that Illumination's team was in the process of storyboarding and "developing set designs for new environments."[1] In October 2024, Keegan-Michael Key teased that the sequel would be "broader in scope" and feature "new folks and old favorites and some folks that [he thinks] are really deep cuts."[17] Producer Chris Meledandri said that, while the Super Mario Galaxy games were the film's core inspiration, it would additionally include "surprises for fans of every Mario era".[18]

Casting

Top: Brie Larson and Benny Safdie join the sequel as the voices of Rosalina and Bowser Jr..
Bottom: Luis Guzmán, Issa Rae, and Donald Glover voice Wart, Honey Queen, and Yoshi.

In September 2025, during a Nintendo Direct presentation, the film's title was revealed as The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Black, Key, and Kevin Michael Richardson were confirmed to reprise their roles from the previous film, with Brian Tyler returning to compose the film's score.[5][19] Two months later, on November 12, a Nintendo Direct presentation for the movie's trailer was released.[20][21][22] With the Direct's release, Brie Larson and Benny Safdie were revealed to have joined the cast as Rosalina and Bowser Jr. respectively.[6] Larson had previously expressed being a fan of Super Mario Galaxy in 2020.[23] On March 9, 2026, with the release of the final trailer, it was revealed that Donald Glover, Issa Rae, and Luis Guzmán had joined the cast, with Glover voicing Yoshi.[7][8]

Animation and design

The film was animated by Illumination Studios Paris in Paris, France. Production was underway by March 2024,[1][24] with animation ending in November 2025.[25] In January 2026, Meledandri confirmed that animation had been completed and post-production had begun.[4]

Music

On September 12, 2025, it was reported that Brian Tyler, who composed the score for The Super Mario Bros. Movie, would be returning to compose the score for the sequel.[26] The score is performed by a 70-piece orchestra and features re-recorded themes from the Super Mario Galaxy series.[4]

Release

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on April 1, 2026,[4] and in Japan on April 24,[27] in RealD 3D and IMAX formats.[28] It was originally scheduled to be released on April 3.[1]

Reception

Box office projections

The film is being projected to top its predecessor's opening weekend, with a $160 million+ 5-day domestic opening.[29]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Lang, Brent (March 10, 2024). "New 'Super Mario Bros.' World Animated Movie in the Works From Illumination, Nintendo". Variety. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  2. ^ "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026)". Irish Film Classification Office. March 10, 2026. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  3. ^ Dunn, Jack (November 12, 2025). "'Super Mario Galaxy Movie' Trailer: Mario Heads to Space, Meets Brie Larson's Rosalina and Benny Safdie's Bowser Jr.'". Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d Phillips, Tom (January 25, 2026). "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Nintendo Direct: Everything Announced". IGN. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Dunn, Jack; Moreau, Jordan (September 12, 2025). "Super Mario Bros. 2 Officially Titled Super Mario Galaxy Movie". Variety. Archived from the original on October 2, 2025. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c Shepard, Kenneth (November 12, 2025). "Mario Galaxy Movie Trailer Reveals Bowser Jr., Rosalina, And More". Kotaku. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c Moreau, Jordan (March 9, 2026). "Super Mario Galaxy Movie Casts Donald Glover as Yoshi". Variety. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  8. ^ a b McWhertor, Michael (March 9, 2026). "Wow, Donald Glover is Yoshi in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie". Polygon. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  9. ^ @FocusFireNo10 (March 10, 2026). "We have the official voice for ROB! @edskudder #thesupermariogalaxymovie" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  10. ^ Evangelista, Chris (May 4, 2021). "More Nintendo Animated Movies on the Way Following Illumination's Super Mario". /Film. Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  11. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan; Lang, Brent (April 4, 2023). "Mario Powers Up: How Nintendo Visionary Shigeru Miyamoto and Illumination's Chris Meledandri Plan to Super Smash Hollywood". Variety. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  12. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (April 5, 2023). "How 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' Post-Credits Scene Hints at a Sequel". Variety. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  13. ^ Tinoco, Armando (April 9, 2023). "Jack Black Wants Pedro Pascal as Wario in 'Super Mario Bros. Movie' Sequel". Deadline Hollywood.
  14. ^ Onder, Cade (April 21, 2023). "Nintendo Confirms More Video Game Movies in the Works". ComicBook.com. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  15. ^ Ahmed, Narzra (June 10, 2023). "Chris Pratt says Super Mario Bros Movie 2 has been delayed by writers' strike". Digital Spy. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  16. ^ Ankers-Range, Adele (December 18, 2023). "Jack Black Wants The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 to Be a Full-on Musical Called Bowser's Revenge". IGN. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  17. ^ Griffin, Griff (October 1, 2024). "The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 Features More Easter Eggs for Hardcore Fans". Mens Journal. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  18. ^ Edwards, Molly (November 12, 2025). "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie isn't just adapting the Wii classic, it's also taking inspiration from Super Mario Odyssey". GamesRadar+. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  19. ^ "Brian Tyler to Return for Illumination Entertainment's 'Super Mario World". Film Music Reporter. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  20. ^ Cripe, Michael (November 10, 2025). "Nintendo Direct to Deliver First The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Trailer Later This Week". IGN. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  21. ^ McWhertor, Michael (November 10, 2025). "A new Nintendo Direct is coming, with a catch". Polygon. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  22. ^ Gerblick, Jordan (November 11, 2025). "Nintendo announces Super Mario Galaxy Movie Nintendo Direct where we'll see the sequel's first trailer". GamesRadar+. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  23. ^ McFerran, Damien (July 2, 2020). "Random: Brie Larson's Boyfriend Said She Was Taking Super Mario Galaxy Too Seriously, So She Threw Him Out". Nintendo Life. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  24. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (March 10, 2024). "Super Mario Bros. Returns to the Big Screen with Second Illumination-Nintendo Movie". Animation Magazine. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  25. ^ Romano, Nick (November 12, 2025). "'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' trailer reveals Bowser Jr. and Rosalina — meet the new cast". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  26. ^ "Bryan Tyler to Return for Illumination Entertainment's 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie'". Film Music Reporter. September 12, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  27. ^ Starkey, Adam (March 11, 2025). "When is 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2' coming out?". NME. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  28. ^ "IMAX Investor Presentation October 2025". IMAX Corporation. October 23, 2025. p. 15. Archived from the original on October 23, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  29. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 12, 2026). "'Super Mario Galaxy Movie' Orbiting $160M+ 5-Day Opening; Bound To Be Biggest YTD – Box Office Early Look". Retrieved March 12, 2026.
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