Today Nintendo and Illumination shattered the internet by releasing the second official trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Expanding on the billion-dollar foundation of the 2023 original, this sequel isn’t just staying in the Mushroom Kingdom—it’s heading into the deep reaches of space. In a move that surprised fans, Nintendo also confirmed the film will move up its launch, landing in theaters on April 1, 2026.
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The Trailer: A Galactic Feast for the Eyes
The new footage leans heavily into the “Galaxy” and “Odyssey” inspirations, showcasing Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) navigating the gravity-defying physics of the Comet Observatory. The standout moment of the trailer, however, belongs to a certain green dinosaur. After being teased at the end of the first film, Yoshi finally makes his “proper” debut, seen hatch-ling and helping Mario navigate the Sand Kingdom’s Inverted Pyramid.
Fans also caught glimpses of:
- The Lumas: The adorable star-shaped creatures who empower Mario with his signature “spin” attack.
- New Power-Ups: Appearances of the Frog Suit and Ice Flower suggest the brothers are digging deep into their power-up inventory for this mission.
- Nostalgic Hardware: In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, Yoshi is seen holding a Super Scope, a nod to the classic SNES accessory.
New Faces in the Starry Cast
Sebastian Maniscalco, Jack Black, Seth Rogen, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Melendandri, CEO of Illumination, Chris Pratt and Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto attend a Special Screening of Universal Pictures’ “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” at Regal LA Live on April 01, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
While the original voice cast returns—including Anya Taylor-Joy as a combat-ready Princess Peach and Jack Black as a still-imprisoned (but vengeful) Bowser—two major additions have fans talking:
Brie Larson as Rosalina: The Academy Award winner joins the fray as the cosmic protector and mother of the Lumas. The trailer showcases a more “action-oriented” Rosalina, seen defending the observatory with star-powered shurikens.
Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr.: Stepping out of his father’s shadow, Bowser Jr. is the primary antagonist this time around. Armed with his magic paintbrush and his iconic Koopa Clown Car, he is on a mission to free his father from the “dollhouse” prison at Peach’s Castle.
What to Expect: Expectations for 2026
With the first film grossing over $1.36 billion, the expectations for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie are astronomical. Director duo Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic have promised a “broader canvas,” utilizing a 70-piece orchestra to blend Brian Tyler’s new score with the legendary themes of Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Odyssey.
