The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) Movie Preview
Mario and his friends are now heading into space!
"The Super Mario Bros. Movie" from 2023 is the most successful video game adaptation of all time – so far. The creators are ready to top that with a brand-new Mario cinematic adventure coming this April! The first teaser trailer has dropped – and it's generating a lot of excitement. But what does this mean for the spectacular sequel? Find out now in our new movie preview!
New Title, New Adventure!
Above all, the trailer dispels a rumor: In spring 2025, NBCUniversal put the movie title "Super Mario World" in circulation during a presentation. It would have been a fitting choice, too: the game of the same name is one of the most popular Mario adventures ever. Plus, it also introduced Yoshi – and after all, he was already teased at the end of the last movie.
But after the trailer, it is now clear that the new film is titled "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie"! The sequel therefore draws inspiration from another particularly popular game in the franchise: "Super Mario Galaxy", which was released in 2007 for the Wii console and took players into outer space. There, Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach and takes her to the center of the universe. Mario must travel to various planets, collect Power Stars, and activate an observatory to rescue her. "Super Mario Galaxy 2", released in 2010, continued the success of its predecessor – both games are considered the best Wii games of all time on Metacritic.
In the teaser, we already see a number of familiar characters – including Monty Mole, Cheep Cheep fish, and several Toads. Also featured is Luma: a star-like creature that accompanies Mario in the game and gives him special abilities.
New Characters in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
It remains unclear how closely the plot will tie in with the first movie. Shigeru Miyamoto spoke of – quote – "a new animated film based on the world of Super Mario Bros." But many fans have already noticed that this time, the movie title does not include "Bros." Could this be a hint that we will see less of Luigi?
We strongly believe that Yoshi will play a major role despite the film being based on a different game. Although he was not part of "Super Mario Galaxy", he made a big splash in its sequel.
We are also excited about Rosalina: she made her big debut in the Mario franchise in the first game and will almost certainly play a significant role in the film adaptation as well. In the game, she watches over the observatory and is the caring adoptive mother of the Lumas. Her mission is to protect the Power Stars and safeguard the universe from threats like Bowser. She also has a tragic backstory, and we are curious to see if the movie will explore it. If so, it would surely be one of the emotional highlights of Mario's new adventure.
Who Will Be the Villain?
As far as Bowser is concerned: if the games are any indication, he will once again be the main villain in this movie. Naturally, the story would then need to show how he breaks out of prison and regains his former power – assuming "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" connects directly to the events of the first film. Then again, the stories in the Mario games are usually self-contained.
But if Bowser breaks free, he will definitely need some help. The question is: from whom? Maybe from henchmen we already met in the previous film. Or perhaps from some new baddies – and the Mario universe is full of them. Fans have been speculating about Bowser Jr., or Wario and Waluigi, among others. Wario in particular, as a money-hungry antagonist, and Waluigi as his quirky sidekick, have huge potential and would bring plenty of chaos with them.
Production & Theatrical Release of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
But for Part 2 to be just as compelling, it needs not only the right characters but also the right team behind it – and luckily, that team is still involved. The creators of the "Minions" at Illumination are once again handling the animation, just as they did for the first movie. Matthew Fogel returns as screenwriter, and Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic are once again directing. With this successful crew, there's every reason to hope the sequel will maintain the same high quality as the original.
"The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" has enormous potential, and fans are of course already eagerly awaiting its release. We will find out from April 3, 2026, whether the sequel can surpass the magic, humor, and fan love of the first movie!
