Upcoming Sequel: Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 Set for 2026

Yesterday, March 10, marks the Mario Day of 2024. A quick fact if you don’t know why March 10 is marked as Mario Day — Mar 10 reads very alike to Mario (MAR10). With the celebration of the Mario Day event, Nintendo and Illumination officially revealed that a new sequel, a Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 is in progress as a response to the Super Mario Bros. Movie hit last year.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 is expected to reach into audience’s eyes by 2026, and this announcement is once again rolling up quite some Super Mario vibes and discussions.

The Predecessor’s a Catalyst

The announcement of a new Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 comes as little surprise given its predecessor, the Super Mario Bros. Movie’s exceptional performance in July 2023, where it garnered a staggering audience of 168.1 million viewers globally and amassed a box office revenue exceeding $1.349 billion worldwide.

This remarkable achievement solidified its position as the highest-grossing film adaptation of a video game and the second-highest-grossing animated film to date. This further marks its spot as one of the best video game-to-movie adaptations, being a great video game movie to watch.

In a review of The Super Mario Bros. Movie from IGN, they described the Mario movie as a captivating journey into animated fantasy. The adventures of Mario, Luigi, and Peach captivate with their infectious energy and clever incorporation of video game references. The high-quality animation transports viewers to the enchanting Mushroom Kingdom, akin to a vibrant wonderland awaiting exploration, setting the stage for the eagerly anticipated sequels to come.

Revealed Details of the New Super Mario Bros. Movie 2

Nintendo and Illumination Entertainment, buoyed by the immense success of the Super Mario Bros. Movie, have swiftly greenlit a sequel, a new Super Mario Bros. Movie 2, capitalising on its predecessor’s box office earnings exceeding $1 billion. Shigeru Miyamoto from Nintendo and Chris Meledandri from Illumination Entertainment have confirmed the commencement of production for the next instalment, slated to hit theatres on April 3rd, 2026.

Meledandri mentioned that Illumination Studios Paris, responsible for the initial film, is currently storyboarding the sequel, led by directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, with animation set to commence shortly. On the other hand, Miyamoto expressed that the upcoming Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 will feature an engaging and enjoyable storyline that further develops the universe introduced in the initial film. Here’s a short quote of what Miyamoto said about the new in-progress Super Mario Bros. Movie 2:

It’ll have a bright and fun story. This time we’re thinking about broadening Mario’s world further. We’ll let you know once we’re at the stage where we’re ready to share more.

Shigeru Miyamoto, Video Game Designer, Producer and Game Director at Nintendo

You might also want to check out what Miyamoto teased in this video below.

More on Mario: Mario vs. Donkey Kong: A Gamer’s Must-Read Review

Two Video Game Movies in Development

Following the November revelation of a live-action adaptation of the Legend of Zelda, Nintendo has now confirmed the development of two movies based on significant franchises. While details regarding the cinematic approach for Link’s adventures remain scarce, it’s noteworthy that Wes Ball, known for directing the Maze Runner trilogy and the forthcoming Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, will lead the project. Additionally, Avi Arad and Miyamoto are set to produce the film.

@3cfilms Live Action Legend Of Zelda Movie #nintendo #legendofzelda #tomholland ♬ original sound – 3C Films

A Bit More on the Upcoming Mario Games

The Mario Day not only revealed this video game adaptation hit of a new Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 but also upcoming Mario games. Nintendo also shared gaming updates, revealing that the Switch remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, a remaster of the 3DS Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, is slated for release on May 23rd and June 27th, respectively.

Furthermore, on March 12th, the Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy collection will see an expansion, incorporating titles like Dr. Mario for the original Game Boy, along with Mario Golf and Mario Tennis for the Game Boy Color. And if you’re into Mario games, be sure to also check out a list of cool Super Mario games in this article.