If you thought Super Mario, Luigi, and the rest of the gang had already reached their peak in the first Super Mario Bros. Movie in 2023, which incidentally grossed a whopping $1.3 billion at the box office (which is about half of what SpongeBob SquarePants is worth), then fasten your seatbelts – Super Mario: The Galactic Movie is apparently going to be the next big leap… into hyperspace.
Super Mario, announced for April 2026, the new animated spectacle takes us even further – from sewer pipes to the immense expanse of space, where mustaches float in weightlessness and stars are not just decoration on a hat.
A team that knows how to strike a retro-nostalgic vein
There was no need to experiment with the successful formula of the previous film: Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic are once again directing, and Matthew Fogel is once again writing the script (who clearly knows how to find the right balance between action, humor, and those “aww” moments). Brian Tyler will once again provide the soundtrack – meaning we can look forward to emotionally charged reinterpretations of the 8-bit tunes we listened to on GameBoys under the covers at 2 in the morning.
The production is once again being driven by the legendary duo: Chris Meledandri from Illumination (who has a hand in Minions) and Shigeru Miyamoto himself, the Japanese wizard who once gave us Mario – and no, we still haven't gotten over the nostalgia from Super Mario 64.
A band that is out of this world (literally)
Chris Pratt returns as Mario and yes, critics are still divided on whether his “It's-a me!” is Italian enough or not. Anya Taylor-Joy will once again lend her voice to Princess Peach, who in this version is no longer just a damsel in distress, but a galaxy-saving damsel. Charlie Day as Luigi? Always pleasantly neurotic. Jack Black as Bowser? He will once again be a musical evil who deserves his own spin-off. Keegan-Michael Key as Toad and Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek also make sure that the supporting roles shine like supernova stars.
What will this galactic story be about?
Although the official synopsis hasn't fallen from the sky (or the Warp Zone) yet, the trailer already hints at a space adventure inspired by the legendary video game. Super Mario Galaxy. And if you've ever played this masterpiece, you know that we're in for multi-dimensional jumping, gravity flips, and most likely – Luma. Yes, those adorable stars that Disney would have licensed long ago if they could.
We expect epic battles with cosmic versions of classic enemies, a futuristic rocket-tube vehicle, and of course Bowser with a new space-based evil scheme. If the first film made fun of the classics, the second promises a parody of science fiction - with enough self-irony to please both children and adults who secretly still believe that plumbers can be heroes.
Conclusion: Is this the movie the galaxy needs?
Judging by the first trailer, Super Mario: The Galactic Movie It won't just be a sequel - it will be an evolution. Star-studded, visually dazzling and witty scripted entertainment for all generations. Illumination and Nintendo clearly know how to find the perfect balance between children's imagination and adult nostalgia. And let's face it - in a galaxy full of serious franchises and dark reboots, this might be exactly the movie the universe needs.
It hits theaters on April 2, 2026 – and this is not an April Fool's joke. Or is it?
