As Nintendo and animation company Illumination (including the “Minions”) jointly announced: Another movie is being made in the world of “Super Mario.” It will be released in cinemas worldwide in April 2026. Universal Pictures will again co-finance and bring the film to screens with Nintendo. Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic from a screenplay by Matthew Fogel. The trio was also responsible for “The Super Mario Bros. Movie”.
There are no further details yet about the upcoming film – just the information, which comes as no surprise to anyone involved, that it is once again an animated film. Or the new project “The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2” is, the classic sequel, or simply set in the same world and focuses on different characters, i.e. just a sequel with a new focus, one can only speculate. But it would be very surprising if the plumber, voiced by Chris Pratt in the original English version, didn’t play a major role. After all, he is the brand’s most popular character.
First step into the “Super Mario” universe?
However, Illumination boss Chris Meledandri has hinted in the past that the plan is to create an entire universe. At some point, films will also appear without Mario or with him only as a peripheral character.
The question therefore remains whether the success of the first part will enable those responsible to take a different direction or whether the chosen path will be continued with a sequel. Especially due to the return of both the directors and the screenwriter, the latter seems much more likely.
After the first part it would just make sense. In Germany, more than 5.3 million people went to the cinemas for “The Super Mario Bros. Movie”. Only “Barbie” had more viewings, with just over six million movie tickets purchased in 2023. Nintendo’s animated film grossed more than $1.36 billion worldwide. Here too, only ‘Barbie’ was more successful in 2023 – with $1.45 billion. Both were the only films that managed to break the billion-dollar barrier at the box office in 2023.