The trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie premiered during the Nintendo Direct livestream today, and it looks like Nintendo and Illumination are gearing up for something big. The sequel to the 2023 hit The Super Mario Bros. Movie leans into the cosmic scope of the classic game Super Mario Galaxy (2007), and it introduces several fresh faces alongside returning stars. For longtime fans (and newcomers alike), it’s a reminder that Mario’s adventures still have room to surprise.
Chris Pratt returns as Mario, and Charlie Day is back as Luigi, with Anya Taylor-Joy reprising Princess Peach and Jack Black returning as Bowser. The trailer revealed two standout additions to the cast: Brie Larson voices Rosalina, the star-guarding princess from the galaxy, and Benny Safdie takes on the role of Bowser Jr. The characters arrive as Mario and Luigi find Bowser still in miniature form after the events of the first film, and now their journey expands beyond the Mushroom Kingdom. They blast off through star-catapults, explore vast planets, and encounter a new threat in Bowser’s son, who’s intent on freeing his father and reclaiming his place. Meanwhile, Rosalina’s cosmic presence hints at the story’s bigger scale: not just castles and pipes, but starlit expanses and interplanetary stakes.
Visually, the trailer leans hard into space adventure. Viewers catch glimpses of inverted pyramids, water-planets, and satellites orbiting unknown worlds. The vibe pulls from the original game’s ambition: traveling between moons and galaxies, using launch stars, and restoring cosmic balance. It seems like Illumination wants to recapture that sense of wide-eyed wonder while weaving a story that’s bold and cinematic.
Behind the scenes, the creative team from the first film returns: Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic direct, Matthew Fogel writes, and Brian Tyler composes the score. The sequel is being produced by Illumination and Nintendo in partnership with Universal Pictures, and it’s set to premiere in theaters on April 3, 2026. That date places it almost exactly three years after the original hit theaters — a fitting timeline for the next chapter. With the first film having made over a billion dollars worldwide, the sequel has big expectations to meet.
For fans of the games, the story choices feel meaningful. Rosalina has always been a character with quieter emotional depth, the guardian of the Lumas and a watcher of the cosmos; her full inclusion as a voice role signals that the film may dig deeper into Mario lore than just “save the princess, defeat Bowser.” Bowser Jr.’s arrival opens a different dynamic too: instead of the older villain re-emerging, now Mario faces a legacy adversary, and the stakes become generational.
Still, questions remain: how much will the story diverge from the game’s structure? Will the film lean into the platforming mechanics of the source material, or build a wholly new narrative? How will the balance between nostalgia and fresh storytelling play out? The trailer offers hints but not answers. For now, the message is clear: this isn’t just Mushroom Kingdom—this is the galaxy beyond.
If you’re a Mario fan, mark April 3, 2026 on your calendar. The film promises to blend familiar voices and settings with new cosmic ambition. For casual viewers, it looks like a fun, visually rich animated adventure. And for those who grew up on bouncing between planets and chasing Power Stars, it might be the movie you didn’t know you were waiting for.
