Nintendo fans received an exciting gift this morning during The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s Nintendo Direct presentation: the first full trailer for the highly anticipated sequel, along with the reveal of two major casting additions. Oscar winner Brie Larson will voice the beloved cosmic guardian Rosalina, while acclaimed actor-director Benny Safdie takes on the role of the mischievous Bowser Jr.
A Trailer Full of Surprises
The trailer wastes no time establishing where we left off with everyone’s favorite villain. Bowser, still reeling from his defeat by the Mario brothers in the first film, has taken up an unexpected hobby: painting. The Koopa King has been living in miniature form inside a model castle within Peach’s Castle ever since consuming a Mini Mushroom, and true to form, he remains hopelessly obsessed with Princess Peach.
The action quickly escalates with a spectacular star shower cascading over Peach’s castle. Using the mystical power of the stars, Peach and Toad launch themselves skyward, embarking on what appears to be an intergalactic adventure. The trailer showcases multiple planets, including a water-covered world and a desert location bearing a striking resemblance to Sand Kingdom from “Super Mario Odyssey”—hinting that the film may tour iconic locations from across the Mario gaming universe.
Bowser Jr. Makes His Cinematic Debut
One of the trailer’s biggest highlights is the prominent appearance of Bowser Jr., who arrives with a clear mission: rescuing his father. Armed with his signature paintbrush from “Super Mario Sunshine,” the young villain seems poised to play a significant role in the story. Safdie’s casting brings dramatic credibility to the character, following his acclaimed performances in films like “Uncut Gems” and “Oppenheimer.”
Rosalina’s Magical Entrance
While her screen time in the trailer is brief, Rosalina makes a spectacular impression. The cosmic princess is shown gracefully battling a giant mech using her magical abilities, suggesting she’ll be a formidable force in the film. Larson, known for her roles as Captain Marvel in the MCU and her Oscar-winning performance in “Room,” brings star power to the ethereal character.
How Rosalina’s storyline will intersect with Bowser Jr.’s rescue mission remains mysterious, fueling fan speculation about the film’s plot. Many viewers are theorizing that the movie might finally address a long-held fan theory regarding the origins of both Peach and Rosalina, though details remain under wraps.
Deep Cuts and Missing Faces
Illumination revealed during the presentation that the film is just “weeks away” from completing animation ahead of its April 3, 2026 US release (April 24 in Japan). The studio has also teased that the sequel will feature Nintendo characters that “are really deep cuts,” though none have been revealed yet—leaving fans buzzing with speculation about which obscure favorites might appear.
Notably absent from the trailer is Yoshi, disappointing fans who hoped to see the lovable dinosaur companion make an appearance in this cosmic adventure. Whether Yoshi will appear at all or is being saved as a surprise remains to be seen.
The Returning All-Star Cast
Larson and Safdie join the full returning cast from the record-breaking first film:
- Chris Pratt as Mario
- Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach
- Charlie Day as Luigi
- Jack Black as Bowser
- Keegan-Michael Key as Toad
- Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek
Galaxy-Sized Expectations
The original “Super Mario Bros. Movie” became a massive cultural phenomenon in 2023, grossing over $1.3 billion worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing film based on a video game. With a beloved video game source material in “Super Mario Galaxy” and “Super Mario Galaxy 2″—both considered among the greatest Mario games ever made—expectations are astronomical for the sequel.
While it remains unclear exactly how closely the film will follow the storyline of either Galaxy game, the trailer’s cosmic setting and star-powered adventures suggest Illumination is embracing the source material’s imaginative scope. The combination of intergalactic exploration, family dynamics with Bowser and Bowser Jr., and the mysterious role of Rosalina sets the stage for an adventure that could surpass even the first film’s impressive achievements.
As animation wraps up in the coming weeks, fans have just a few months to theorize, speculate, and count down to what promises to be one of 2026’s biggest animated releases.
