When The Super Mario Bros. Movie arrived in theaters in 2023, it shattered box office records, becoming the highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time with a worldwide total of over $1.36 billion. The massive success quickly led to Illumination and Nintendo greenlighting a sequel, scheduling it for an April 2026 release. Development on the follow-up has been shrouded in a level of secrecy typical for Nintendo, a company known for valuing the element of surprise with its projects. Still, with less than a year until its release, no teasers or official title had been announced, leaving fans to speculate about the sequel. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the original Super Mario Bros., Nintendo finally unveiled the first trailer during a special presentation.
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For months, rumors have suggested the sequel would draw inspiration from one of the most beloved games in the series, Super Mario Galaxy. This speculation was largely fueled by the inclusion of a Luma, a star-like creature central to the Galaxy games, in the first film. Further hints emerged through various online domain registrations by NBCUniversal for titles related to a “Super Mario Galaxy” movie, though other leaks also pointed towards “Super Mario World” as a possibility. The new trailer confirmed which path Nintendo and Illumination have taken for the sequel, now officially named The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
Nintendo Is Expanding Its Movie Presence Beyond Super Mario
For decades, Nintendo was famously hesitant to adapt its properties for the big screen following the commercial and critical failure of the 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros. movie. The monumental success of the 2023 animated film, however, has marked a significant shift in the company’s strategy, opening the floodgates for a new cinematic universe. The most prominent example of this new direction is the live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda, scheduled for release on May 7, 2027.
The Legend of Zelda is being co-financed by Nintendo and Sony Pictures, with Wes Ball, director of the Maze Runner trilogy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, set to helm the project. In a major announcement, Nintendo confirmed that Princess Zelda will be played by Bo Bragason, known for her role in Disney’s Renegade Nell, while Benjamin Evan Ainsworth of The Haunting of Bly Manor has been cast as the hero, Link. In interviews, Ball has stated he wants the film to feel “grounded” and “real,” expressing a desire to capture the “wonder and whimsy” of a live-action Hayao Miyazaki film.
Beyond the announced projects for Mario and Zelda, Nintendo has made it clear that more adaptations are in the works. In a recent Q&A with investors, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed the company’s broader ambitions. “We are working on other projects,” Furukawa stated. “But we are not yet at the stage where we can make announcements.” This confirmation that secret film projects are in development opens the door for any number of the company’s other major franchises to make the leap to the big screen. The list of Nintendo’s IPs includes the globally popular life-simulation series Animal Crossing, the action-adventure franchise Metroid, the charming and versatile hero Kirby, and the colorful and competitive shooter Splatoon. Each of these best-selling series has a dedicated fanbase and a unique world that could serve as the foundation for a successful film.
While the specifics of those other projects remain under wraps, recent activity suggests the next character to get the spotlight is already lined up. In June 2025, a copyright was filed for an “Untitled Donkey Kong Project,” listed as a motion picture with Nintendo Studios and Universal Pictures as parties. Given Donkey Kong’s (voiced by Seth Rogen) popular role in The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the recent release of the critically acclaimed Nintendo Switch 2 title Donkey Kong Bananza, a spin-off seems like a strong and logical next step.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie pipe warps into theaters on April 3, 2025.
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