Nintendo officially announced its next animated movie, the Super Mario Galaxy Movie, only a few months ago as part of Mario’s 40th anniversary celebration. Despite the short time since the announcement, there is already a clear vision for Mario’s next big-screen adventure following the huge success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Behind the scenes, Nintendo and Illumination are teaming up once again, with Universal Pictures returning to help fund the project and handle the worldwide release. The creative team remains unchanged: directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic are back, Matthew Fogel is writing the script, and Brian Tyler will compose the music.
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The story is based a lot on the Super Mario Galaxy games, moving the action well beyond the Mushroom Kingdom and into space. Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad will all be back, but this time, Bowser Jr. is the main focus as he tries to save his father, adding a new twist to the usual story.
The film is scheduled to premiere in theatres on April 3, 2026, with international releases to follow later that month. This sets the stage for another major worldwide rollout. So if you’re ready for what’s next, let’s get into everything we know about the Super Mario Galaxy Movie, starting with the trailer.
It looks like Bowser isn’t rushing into battle this time. Instead, King Koopa seems to be stepping back, but things get out of control when Bowser Jr. jumps in and pulls him back into the fight with what looks like a full rescue mission. This change gives the story a new angle, moving away from the usual “Bowser kidnaps Peach” story and opening the door to something more complex. From what we’ve seen, Princess Peach and Toad aren’t just waiting either, as they seem to be heading into space on their own, while Mario and Luigi are seen speeding through the desert kingdom of Tostarena from Super Mario Odyssey on motorbikes, adding an unexpected twist to the story.
At the same time, the film shifts its focus to its space theme with the introduction of Rosalina, who brings a very different presence to the story. Voiced by Brie Larson, she’s shown using the power of the Lumas—those small, star-like creatures that fans of Super Mario Galaxy will instantly recognize—and the size of that power already looks much bigger than anything we saw in the previous film, especially when it comes to destroying some of Bowser Jr.’s more mechanical creations.
There are also a few small hints for long-time fans scattered throughout, with Bowser Jr.’s slightly messy, paint-covered look pointing to his appearance in Super Mario Sunshine, while the mix of Galaxy-inspired visuals and Odyssey-style settings suggests the film isn’t using just one game for inspiration. Instead, it feels like a wider mix of the Mario world, which could become one of the film’s biggest strengths if it’s done well.
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With so many characters in Nintendo’s universe, it’s tempting to bring in everyone, but for now, the film is sticking to the Mario world. Even though The Legend of Zelda and Metroid are part of the same family, a big crossover doesn’t seem likely at the moment, especially since other projects are in the works. Still, there’s lots of potential to add more characters from Mario’s world in ways that matter.
The voice cast is primarily the same, with many familiar actors returning and a few new ones joining to expand the lineup:
- Mario — voiced by Chris Pratt
- Luigi — voiced by Charlie Day
- Princess Peach — voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy
- Toad — voiced by Keegan-Michael Key
- Bowser — voiced by Jack Black
- Bowser Jr. — voiced by Benny Safdie
- Rosalina — voiced by Brie Larson
- Yoshi — Casting not revealed
Most of the main cast is back, but there are some new faces and possible returns who could play bigger roles in the story. Donkey Kong was in the last movie, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see him again, especially as the world expands. Yoshi hasn’t been officially announced yet, but merchandise leaks have strongly hinted at his arrival, making him one of the most anticipated new characters.
Circle this one, because Mario’s next big-screen outing is officially set to land in the United States on April 3, 2026, giving Nintendo and Illumination a clear runway to build on the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie without rushing things.
Not everyone will see the movie on the same day. North America gets it first, while other regions, including Japan, are expected to follow later in April. This is typical for a big release. The full list of international dates isn’t final yet, but more details should be announced soon.
Either way, April 2026 is the moment to keep in mind, so don’t be surprised if your local cinema starts looking a lot more like the Mushroom Kingdom around then.
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