NintendoA sequel to the mega-popular Super Mario Bros. Movie is now in the works and Nintendo has just made an exciting announcement: there’s a new title and the original cast are set to return.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a smash hit when it dropped in theaters in 2023, quickly becoming one of the year’s highest-grossing films and kick-starting a brand new cinematic universe for Nintendo.
Now holding the record for the biggest debut of any animated movie in history, it seemed inevitable a follow-up would be close behind. Details were few and far between – until now.
The latest Nintendo Direct commenced on Friday, September 12, ahead of the Super Mario Bros.’ 40th anniversary, with the first announcement being the upcoming film.
Introducing The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Shigeru Miyamoto appeared on screen to reveal the new movie is called The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, with the original voice cast set to return.
That includes Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, and Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek.
Alongside this, a short teaser was played, with the camera following a butterfly as it lands on a sleeping Mario’s cap before swooping across the scenery, past Peach’s castle, and up to the sky to reveal the title.
Following this, Illumination’s Chris Meledandri says, “As we celebrate Mario’s 40th anniversary, it’s an opportunity to reflect on the four decades of creativity, imagination, and adventure that Mario has brought to life for fans across generations and around the world.
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“From its ground-breaking world-building to its iconic characters and unforgettable music, the Super Mario Brothers have left a lasting impact on the very fabric of our culture. All of us at Illumination feel so fortunate to continue our collaboration with Nintendo as we expand the life of Mario in movies.”
What’s more, he reveals that while the Super Mario Galaxy games are the core inspiration for the sequel, “this next film holds surprises for fans of every Mario era.”
Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic will be returning to direct the film, and Illumination’s illustrators are currently hard at work to ensure the quality will match its predecessor.
Brian Tyler is also back to compose the score, with Meledandri promising it will feature a blend of “musical themes from Mario’s incredible game heritage.” Miyamoto added that he’s also involved in the production of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, saying he’s “enjoying it”.
Notably, there was no mention of Seth Rogen’s Donkey Kong – it’s unclear whether he’ll return in the future. There were rumors of a standalone Donkey Kong film, but these haven’t been confirmed.
There’s no release date for the follow-up just yet, but we’ll no doubt hear more in the months to come.
In the meantime, check out our rundown of the highest-grossing movies of all time, the best video game movies, and find out what’s coming up with our 2025 movies release calendar.