Nintendo and Illumination have officially announced the next chapter in the Super Mario cinematic universe — The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. The sequel to the 2023 global hit The Super Mario Bros. Movie will release in theaters on April 3, 2026 in the United States and April 24, 2026 in Japan.
The movie is once again being co-produced by Nintendo and Illumination, with Universal Pictures handling worldwide distribution. Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, writer Matthew Fogel, and composer Brian Tyler are all returning for the sequel.
🌌 From Mushroom Kingdom to the Stars
The new film will take Mario and friends beyond the Mushroom Kingdom into outer space, drawing direct inspiration from the acclaimed 2007 Nintendo Wii title Super Mario Galaxy.
A short teaser released online shows Mario resting under a tree before a butterfly floats up toward the stars — hinting at a new cosmic adventure. Nintendo says the film will be “based on the world of Super Mario Bros. but with a galactic-scale story,” promising new characters and surprises for longtime fans.
🎭 Returning and New Cast Members
The voice cast from the 2023 blockbuster is returning:
- 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
Joining the lineup are Brie Larson as the cosmic guardian Rosalina, and Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr., confirming long-running rumors that the story would expand into the Galaxy universe.
💫 Expectations and Hype
With the original Super Mario Bros. Movie earning over $1 billion worldwide, Nintendo and Illumination have set high expectations for the sequel. Industry analysts expect the Galaxy storyline to offer fresh visual opportunities — from zero-gravity sequences to new interplanetary settings — while expanding Mario’s cinematic universe beyond the Mushroom Kingdom.
Fans have already begun speculating about possible cameos, including Yoshi, Wario, and even the Lumas from the original Super Mario Galaxy game.
🪐 A Milestone for the Franchise
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will also mark a key milestone for the iconic plumber: 2025-2026 celebrates the 40th anniversary of the original Super Mario Bros. game, first released in 1985.
Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto described the project as “a celebration of creativity, adventure, and imagination — the spirit that has always defined Mario.”
📅 Release Details
- Title: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
- US Release: April 3, 2026
- Japan Release: April 24, 2026
- Studio: Nintendo × Illumination × Universal Pictures
- Genre: Animated Adventure / Comedy
📰 Final Word
From humble pipes to the farthest stars, Super Mario is heading into a bold new frontier. If the first movie proved that video-game films can break the billion-dollar barrier, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie may just show that they can soar beyond it — literally.
Sources: Nintendo.co.jp, GamesRadar, Wired, Entertainment Weekly, The Wrap, Economic Times