Mario is heading to space on the big screen. Nintendo and Illumination officially titled the next film The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and rolled a brief teaser during the September Direct. The sequel follows 2023’s billion-plus hit and anchors Mario’s 40th anniversary plans heading into 2026.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie first teaser
Mario naps under a tree in the Mushroom Kingdom as a butterfly drifts up, the camera tilts to the stars, and the Super Mario Galaxy theme swells. It is a mood piece that signals the pivot from the Kingdom to the cosmos.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie release date and cast
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opens April 3, 2026 in the U.S., with more territories through April. Illumination’s Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic are back in the director’s chairs, with Matthew Fogel writing and producers Chris Meledandri and Shigeru Miyamoto overseeing. The core voice cast returns, including Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, and Jack Black.
What this likely means for the story
Calling the sequel “Galaxy” tees up star-hopping locations, gravity puzzles, and a larger ensemble. The games put Rosalina, the Lumas, and the Comet Observatory at the center of the mythos. The teaser stops short of confirming any of that, but the title alone sets expectations for a wider world than the first film.
Other highlights from the Nintendo Direct
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Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 for Switch 2 and Switch. Nintendo announced both Galaxy games are coming in October, available as a bundle and individually. That timing lines up neatly with the film’s push into 2026.
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Direct cadence and context. Today’s show is the first big content-focused Direct of the Switch 2 era. It sets the table for late 2025 and the anniversary slate.
Follow the movie on Looking Forward To here to stay up to date.
Sources: September 12th, 2025 Nintendo Direct
