By Sagar V. Mankar 
Nintendo and Illumination are teaming up once again to bring fans another movie based on the Super Mario Bros. universe. The sequel is set to hit theaters on April 3, 2026, and promises to expand the world introduced in the first film. The announcement was shared on Nintendo’s official website, as well as Mario creator and producer Shigeru Miyamoto teased it on X, “We’re thinking about broadening Mario’s world further, and it’ll have a bright and fun story.”
While specific details about the storyline remain scarce, Miyamoto’s comments hint at a broader focus beyond Mario and Luigi. Fans speculate that the sequel might spotlight other characters, especially after the first film’s post-credits scene teased a significant role for Yoshi.
Nintendo, Illumination, and Universal Pictures seem committed to sticking with the winning formula that made the original movie a massive success. Released in April 2023, The Super Mario Bros. Movie grossed over $1.3 billion globally with $500 million domestically, becoming the second-highest box office hit of the year, following Barbie.
The creative team behind the first film, including directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic and screenwriter Matthew Fogel, will return for the sequel. Even the release timeline mirrors the original, maintaining an early April launch.
Although casting details haven’t been confirmed, it’s expected that Chris Pratt will reprise his role as Mario, assuming the character takes center stage in the new film.
Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri shared that the studio’s Paris team is already hard at work on storyboarding and set designs. Animation production is set to begin soon.
Besides Mario, Nintendo also announced The Legend of Zelda live-action film last year but did not provide any release timeline.
Sources: Nintendo.jp Announcement