In 2023, The Super Mario Bros. Movie dramatically changed expectations for video game movies. It was the first to earn $1 billion worldwide, eventually reaching a total of $1.36 billion globally. This made it the highest-grossing animated film of the year and the second-highest-grossing film overall, after Barbie. The movie had the third-best opening weekend for any animated film ever, and it broke the record for the largest global opening weekend for an animated movie, surpassing Frozen II. These impressive numbers showed that Nintendo had successfully revitalized a beloved franchise after a poorly received live-action film in 1993, opening up new possibilities for entertainment.
The new movie, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, is based on the popular video games released in 2007 and 2010. Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic are directing again, with Matthew Fogel writing the script. Experts predict it will earn more on its opening weekend than the first movie, potentially bringing in over $160 million domestically and $350 million worldwide. This success is thanks to Nintendo and Illumination adding many new characters from different Nintendo games to join the original cast.
1) Mario (Chris Pratt)
Chris Pratt returns as the central figure in the series, again playing the Brooklyn plumber he first portrayed in 2023. His initial casting sparked debate, as many fans were accustomed to Charles Martinet’s iconic, high-pitched voice from the video games. However, Pratt’s performance ultimately won over most viewers, bringing a relatable, everyman quality to the fantastical world of the Mushroom Kingdom. Known to many as Peter Quill from the Guardians of the Galaxy films and his work in Jurassic World, Pratt has spent a decade playing humorous characters facing incredible challenges, a style he brings to this role as well.
2) Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy)
The first movie intentionally moved away from the typical ‘damsel in distress’ storyline, presenting Princess Peach as a strong and capable leader and fighter. Anya Taylor-Joy voices Peach, who uses her intelligence and athleticism to overcome challenges throughout the cosmos. Taylor-Joy, known for her roles in The Queen’s Gambit and Furiosa: A Mad Max Story, delivers a performance that balances Peach’s regal nature with her fierce independence and readiness for battle. By keeping strong female characters central to The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the studio demonstrates its dedication to well-developed and engaging characters.
3) Luigi (Charlie Day)
The funny back-and-forth between Mario and Luigi has always been key to the franchise, and Charlie Day’s energetic portrayal of Luigi really highlights that. Known for his roles in shows like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and the movie Pacific Rim, Day expertly plays Luigi as a worried and anxious character. In the first Mario movie, Luigi spent a lot of time separated from Mario, held captive in a dark world. Now, with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie taking place in vast, outer-space settings, the story needs to give Luigi more opportunities to shine and be a bigger part of the action.
4) Bowser (Jack Black)
Jack Black’s portrayal of Bowser was the standout performance in the first film. He perfectly combined a frightening intensity with surprisingly tender, romantic moments, and his rendition of “Peaches” even became a hit song. In the sequel, Bowser starts off imprisoned, but his escape sets the stage for a much grander, more universe-threatening plan. Black, known for his energetic comedic roles in movies like School of Rock and his acclaimed voice work in Kung Fu Panda, brings the dramatic flair needed for a villain aiming for total domination.
5) Toad (Keegan-Michael Key)
In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Keegan-Michael Key’s Toad was a lively connection between the audience and the quirky world of the Mushroom Kingdom. Now, in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Toad is becoming a more experienced guide for Mario’s journey through space. Key, well-known for his comedic talent from Key & Peele, uses his impressive voice to make Toad a fully developed character, not just a source of laughs. The role is expected to grow, with rumors that Toad will lead the “Toad Brigade,” a helpful group from the Galaxy games who provide essential support as Mario travels between planets.
6) Kamek (Kevin Michael Richardson)
Kevin Michael Richardson returns as Kamek, Bowser’s cunning advisor, a role he first played in the previous film where he explained Bowser’s power and handled the details of his plans. Richardson is a highly experienced voice actor with a long career, including roles as Gantu in Lilo & Stitch, Principal Lewis in American Dad, and Tombstone in The Spectacular Spider-Man. He’s known for playing both intimidating characters and funny supporting roles, and his ability to do both makes him a perfect fit for Kamek in this series.
7) Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson)
Fans are especially excited about the introduction of Princess Rosalina to the Super Mario movie universe. Known as the gentle but powerful protector of the Lumas and captain of the Comet Observatory, Rosalina will be played by Brie Larson. She’s expected to bring the same sense of calm strength and leadership to the role that she showed as Captain Marvel. In the games, Rosalina guides Mario, explaining how the Power Stars work and warning him about the danger Bowser presents to the universe. Casting Larson suggests the movies will now explore bigger, more epic storylines.
8) Yoshi (Donald Glover)
Donald Glover’s casting as Yoshi is a surprisingly great fit, and it’s been a long time coming! Details about Yoshi’s look appeared in ads for Old Spice and on Pillsbury cookie dough boxes months before the official announcement in January 2026, and Glover’s involvement wasn’t confirmed until the movie’s trailer in March 2026. Most fans know Glover from his role as Troy Barnes on the popular sitcom Community, which helped launch his career. He’s also proven he can handle iconic roles, playing Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story and Aaron Davis in Spider-Man: Homecoming – a casting that even led to a fan campaign for Miles Morales to become part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
9) Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie)
Bowser Jr., voiced by Benny Safdie, is the main villain in the new movie, and his casting is a surprisingly unique choice for the series. Safdie is best known as a director, having co-created films like Good Time and Uncut Gems with his brother Josh. These movies are known for their intense style and focus on flawed characters making increasingly poor choices. This is Safdie’s first time working on an animated film, making Bowser Jr. a new direction for him—but the character’s quick temper and demanding nature actually fit well with the types of troubled characters Safdie usually directs.
10) Fox McCloud (Glen Powell)
Okay, I’m officially even more excited for the Super Mario Galaxy Movie! Glen Powell, who was amazing in Top Gun: Maverick and Twisters, is joining the cast as Fox McCloud! It’s pretty clear Nintendo is building a whole connected universe of movies, and this is huge. It seems like Mario’s adventures are going to take him beyond the Mushroom Kingdom and into the world of Star Fox. There are rumors he’ll have a big role in the next movie, but honestly, what really has me hyped is the possibility of a *Super Smash Bros.style crossover! We’ve been wanting this for years, and it looks like it might actually happen!
11) Honey Queen (Issa Rae)
Issa Rae, known for creating, writing, and starring in the HBO series Insecure and for voicing Spider-Woman in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, brings the Honey Queen to life in Super Mario Galaxy. The Honey Queen is the ruler of the Honeyhop Galaxy. Her scenes with Mario add a touch of humor and help expand the game’s universe, demonstrating the wide variety of life beyond the Mushroom Kingdom.
12) Wart (Luis Guzmán)
Luis Guzmán joins the cast as Wart, a relatively unknown villain from the 1988 game Super Mario Bros. 2. He’s a frog-like character who hasn’t appeared much in the Mario franchise since. The latest trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie finally showed off Wart, proving the film is pulling from all corners of Nintendo’s past for its characters. Guzmán is well-known for playing Gomez Addams in Tim Burton’s Wednesday.
Who are you most excited to see join the cast of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-04-01 16:11