The Super Mario Bros. Movie Sequel Finally Gets a Trailer (& New Title)

by

In 2023, I was absolutely thrilled when The Super Mario Bros. Movie graced our movie screens, breaking box office records and crowned as the highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time with a staggering $1.36 billion worldwide. This blockbuster success paved the way for Illumination and Nintendo to greenlight a sequel, set for an April 2026 release. The development of this highly anticipated follow-up has been wrapped in the typical veil of mystery that Nintendo is known for, masterfully preserving surprise as their signature trait in projects. However, with less than a year to go before its premiere, no tantalizing teasers or official title have emerged yet, leaving us fans eagerly speculating about what’s to come. As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original Super Mario Bros., Nintendo has finally shared the first trailer during a special presentation, igniting excitement within the community and making us all wonder what adventures await us in the sequel!

Speculation about the upcoming sequel’s inspiration has been building for months, with many believing it will draw heavily from the popular game “Super Mario Galaxy”. This belief was largely strengthened by the appearance of a Luma, a key character in the “Galaxy” games, in the first film. Additional clues were found in domain registrations by NBCUniversal for titles related to a “Super Mario Galaxy” movie, although other leaks hinted at “Super Mario World” as another possibility. However, the new trailer has now confirmed that Nintendo and Illumination have opted for the former title for the sequel, officially named “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie”.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. April 2026.

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) September 12, 2025

Nintendo Is Expanding Its Movie Presence Beyond Super Mario

For many years, Nintendo was known for being cautious about turning its characters into movies after the disappointing results of the 1993 live-action “Super Mario Bros.” film. But the huge success of the 2023 animated movie has changed their approach, signaling a new era of cinema based on Nintendo properties. One of the clearest indications of this change is the upcoming live-action version of “The Legend of Zelda,” set to hit theaters on May 7, 2027.

The blockbuster movie adaptation of The Legend of Zelda is jointly funded by Nintendo and Sony Pictures, with Wes Ball, renowned director of the Maze Runner trilogy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, taking charge. In a significant update, Nintendo revealed that Bo Bragason, recognized for her work in Disney’s Renegade Nell, will portray Princess Zelda, while Benjamin Evan Ainsworth from The Haunting of Bly Manor has been selected to play the main character, Link. In discussions, Ball emphasized his aim for the film to exude a “realistic” and “authentic” feel, expressing his ambition to encapsulate the “enchantment and whimsy” often found in live-action Hayao Miyazaki films.

As a Nintendo enthusiast, I’ve been thrilled about the upcoming Mario and Zelda projects, but here’s some exciting news that’s got me even more pumped! In a recent chat with investors, our fearless leader, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa, spilled the beans on more projects we haven’t heard about yet. He confirmed that they’re cookin’ up something big and secretive, but we’re not quite ready to share the details just yet.

This sneaky peek into their film-making plans leaves room for any of Nintendo’s other mega-popular franchises to make a grand entrance onto the big screen! Animal Crossing, Metroid, Kirby, and Splatoon are all in the running, each with a dedicated fanbase eagerly awaiting their moment in the limelight. Their unique worlds and captivating stories could easily translate into a successful film. So, stay tuned, fellow gamers, because the magic of Nintendo is just getting started!

It appears that details about other projects are still confidential, but clues suggest that another character is set to take center stage soon. In June 2025, a copyright was registered for an unnamed Donkey Kong project, which is described as a movie produced by Nintendo Studios and Universal Pictures. Given Donkey Kong’s prominent role in the latest Super Mario Bros. movie, voiced by Seth Rogen, and the recent launch of the highly praised Donkey Kong Bananza game for Nintendo Switch 2, a spin-off seems like a plausible and sensible next move.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie pipe warps into theaters on April 3, 2025.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/7-movies-to-watch-after-the-super-mario-bros-movie/embed/#

Read More

2025-09-12 16:10