The Super Mario Galaxy Movie 2026
Veteran Nintendo designer and Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto has addressed speculation about a Super Smash Bros. movie and a larger Nintendo cinematic universe, just as The Super Mario Galaxy Movie prepares to hit theaters.
After the massive success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Nintendo and Illumination are expanding the animated Mario universe with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. The new film expands Mario’s world into space and introduces major new characters like Rosalina and Bowser Jr., alongside returning fan favorites. With its April 1 release date, the sequel is already being positioned as one of the biggest box office events of 2026. In a recent interview with Polygon, Miyamoto and Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri discussed the idea of a Nintendo cinematic universe. Miyamoto pushed back on that idea, explaining that a full crossover event is not currently the goal. He noted that, unlike Smash Bros., audiences should not expect a situation where "all Nintendo characters would be joining." Read his comments below: MIYAMOTO: Right off the bat, I’ll say that unlike something like Super Smash Bros., I don't think you'll have a situation all Nintendo characters would be joining. As you know, my rule is that Pikmin can appear in any series.When we had kind of ideas from Illumination about,"What about this character? What about that character?" I was like,"Oh yeah, that's right. We had this. Oh yeah, that's right. We had that character." So it really kind of reaffirmed the varied nature of characters in the Mario world. We have plenty of characters to create a movie, and yet we wanted to add a little bit of spice, a little bit of secret cameos here and there. And you'll see that there's one secret character that plays a big role. Miyamoto emphasizes that the creative team is focused on what works best for each movie, something that was echoed by Meledandri, who described a much more organic creative process than audiences might expect. Rather than mapping out a long-term interconnected universe, Meledandri said ideas come from simple conversations about what would be fun in a given scene. Meledandri shared that elements like including Pikmin or other recognizable characters are considered on a case-by-case basis, with Miyamoto ultimately deciding whether they feel appropriate. Read his comments below: MELEDANDRI: When you use the term universe, it conjures up for me this idea that there's a group of really smart people in a room with charts up on a wall and they're planning the next 10 years of how all the characters might be weaving in and out of movies. Our process is actually very different from that. It's much more geared toward conversations about what would be fun within a certain scene in the movie. So these ideas come up based on,"Oh, wouldn't it be fun if the Pikmin appeared here? Wouldn't that be fun?" And then that conversation, if we agree that it's a fun idea, then we look to Miyamoto-san to just make his own judgment about whether or not it feels right to him, but it's much more incidental than strategic. 2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie became a global phenomenon, starring Chris Pratt as Mario, Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Day as Luigi, and Jack Black as Bowser. The film was a massive box office success, earning more than $1.36 billion worldwide and cementing Nintendo and Illumination's partnership as a major force in theatrical animation, suggesting that more films based on the iconic game franchise could be on the horizon. However, Miyamoto’s philosophy helps explain why a Super Smash Bros. movie isn’t being actively set up, even as Nintendo continues expanding its cinematic slate. While crossovers may still happen, they are being treated as creative additions rather than foundational pieces, setting up a larger narrative. The focus remains on making each movie stand on its own, rather than serving as part of a larger interconnected universe. This approach ultimately reflects a different ideology from the interconnected cinematic universes popularized by franchises like Marvel. By focusing on creativity and individual storytelling, Nintendo and Illumination are building a foundation that allows for flexibility. If a Super Smash Bros. movie does eventually happen, it will likely feel more like a culmination of organic choices rather than a preplanned story. In The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad will be seen traveling beyond the Mushroom Kingdom through star-filled portals, colorful planetoids, and surreal landscapes from Super Mario Galaxy, along with nods to Super Mario Odyssey and Super Mario Wonder. The film will bring back the original cast, with Brie Larson joining as Princess Rosalina and Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr. With The Super Mario Galaxy Movie about to debut and early projections pointing to another massively successful opening, Nintendo and Illumination are clearly entering a new era of success, which could eventually create opportunities for bigger crossover projects, even if they are not currently in development. Subscribe to our newsletter for Nintendo film insights Want deeper takes on Nintendo movies? Subscribe to the newsletter for focused analysis of the studio's film strategy, creative choices, cameo possibilities and what each standalone movie could mean for future Nintendo cinema. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opens in theaters on April 1, 2026. 5/10 The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Like Follow Followed PG Action Adventure Animation Comedy Release Date April 1, 2026 Runtime 98 Minutes Director Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Pierre Leduc, Fabien Polack Writers Matthew Fogel Producers Chris Meledandri, Shigeru Miyamoto Cast See All
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