The Same Dream Team — With a Bigger Canvas

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie follows The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which was released in 2023 and earned more than $1.3 billion worldwide. Both films are produced by Chris Meledandri of Illumination and Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo, directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, written by Matthew Fogel, and scored by Brian Tyler. 

The fact that every key creative element returns intact is a massive vote of confidence — and a signal that Illumination knows exactly what made the first film work.

The Story: A Galaxy-Hopping Revenge Mission

Having thwarted Bowser's previous plot to marry Princess Peach, Mario and Luigi now face a fresh threat in Bowser Jr., who is determined to liberate his father from captivity and restore the family legacy. Alongside companions new and old, the brothers travel across the stars to stop the young heir's crusade. 

The latest trailer finds Bowser Jr. springing his dad out of his pint-sized prison in Peach's Castle, with the duo plotting a revenge mission that spans the cosmos.  Meanwhile, Mario and Luigi meet and quickly befriend Yoshi as they join Princess Peach and Toad on an adventure into outer space — and come face to face with the mysterious Rosalina. 

The New Faces: Brie Larson, Donald Glover, and Benny Safdie

The returning cast is excellent — but the newcomers are stealing the spotlight.

Rosalina will be voiced by none other than Brie Larson — Captain Marvel herself — who had previously expressed being a fan of Super Mario Galaxy back in 2020. Benny Safdie voices Bowser Jr., meaning he and Jack Black could be due for a "Peaches" reprise. 

And then there's the surprise everyone didn't know they needed. Donald Glover — actor, musician, and creative force behind Atlanta — voices fan-favorite Yoshi, and already seems tight with the Mario brothers when Bowser Jr. attacks, suggesting some bonding time happened before the chaos begins. 

The final trailer also revealed that Issa Rae and Luis Guzmán have joined the cast  — though their exact roles remain a delicious mystery ahead of the April 1 release.

Inspired by Gaming History — But Full of Surprises

Illumination's Chris Meledandri described the film's ambition clearly: "While the Super Mario Galaxy games are the core inspiration for our story, this next film holds surprises for fans of every Mario era. Our directors and our team of artists are busy working to deliver a film that aspires to earn its place in the history we're here to celebrate." 

Trailers have already teased connections to Super Mario Odyssey — judging by a sandy desert scene — as well as appearances from classic villains like Birdie and Super Mario Bros. 2's Mouser. 

A Post-Credits Scene That Hints at Even More

The first film's post-credits scene already hints at a potential sequel featuring Yoshi — and Jack Black has gone on record expressing interest in Pedro Pascal being cast as Wario in a future installment.  Nintendo has confirmed more video game movies are in the works, making The Super Mario Galaxy Movie feel less like a sequel and more like the second chapter of a generational franchise.

April 1, 2026 — No Joke

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie arrives carrying the weight of one of gaming's greatest legacies and the momentum of one of cinema's biggest animated hits. With the same creative team, a spectacular new cast, and a cosmic setting that opens up the Mario universe like never before, the sequel has everything it needs to match — or surpass — its predecessor.

On April 1, 2026, the galaxy is Mario's playground. Let's-a go.