It’s time to get to the next level. Nintendo has officially announced that a second “Super Mario Bros. Movie” from animation studio Illumination (co-financed and distributed by Universal Pictures) is already set for a release date of April 3, 2026. The video game company made that news about a follow-up to the billion-dollar hit public in a post made on social media over the weekend (see below).
That statement from Nintendo made by Shigeru Miyamoto reads as follows:
“We are now creating a new animated film based on the world of ‘Super Mario Bros.’ This film is planned for release in theaters on April 3, 2026, in the US and many other markets, and throughout April in other territories. We’ll let you know the details once we’re ready to share more. This time, too, the staff at Illumination and Nintendo are working together. We’re thinking about broadening Mario’s world further, and it’ll have a bright and fun story. We hope you’ll look forward to it!”
“Super Mario Bros. Movie” featured Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, Keegan Michael Key as Toad, and Jack Black as Bowser. The original film, directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, earned an impressive $1.361 billion at the global box office, making it the second highest-grossing film of last year behind Greta Gerwig’s fellow breakout hit “Barbie.”
Variety adds that Horvath and Jelenic will return to helm the untitled sequel, with screenwriter Matthew Fogel also rejoining the creative team.
Fans will have to remain patient for news of any new additions, such as Mario’s dinosaur pal, Yoshi, or additional Nintendo universe villains like the ghostly King Boo or “Donkey Kong” crocodile antagonist King K. Rool. There was also a brief nod in the original to the starfighter video game “Starfox,” but it’s unknown if that beloved video game will ultimately be mined for sequels. That’s not the only video game movie in development from Nintendo as the company has joined forces with Sony Pictures recently to tackle a live-action “Legend of Zelda” movie with director Wes Ball (“Kingdom of The Planet of The Apes”).
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