In exciting news for the gaming and movie community, the beloved Super Mario Bros. has announced an upcoming sequel to its hugely successful animated film which broke box office records. Celebrated on Mario Day, Shigeru Miyamoto, the legendary game developer from Nintendo, revealed the partnership with Illumination on the project. Illumination's CEO Chris Meledandri confirmed that directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, along with the team from the first movie, are hard at work on the new sequel set to release on April 3, 2026, at least in the US with global dates to follow.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel is set to expand Mario's universe with a story that is both bright and fun. Impressive credentials back this announcement, considering the original film's monumental success, grossing over a billion dollars worldwide – it was the second-highest grossing film of 2023 and the highest grossing video game adaptation to date.

Will the Super Mario Bros. movie sequel include the same voice cast from the first film?

The announcement did not provide specific details about the voice cast. Still, given the success of the first film, it's possible that they will aim to bring back the star-studded team, including Chris Pratt who starred as the voice of Mario.

Background information: The original Super Mario Bros. movie was an animated feature based on the iconic Nintendo game franchise. Nintendo's heavy involvement in the adaptation aimed to maintain the authenticity and spirit of the video game series, and incorporating renowned game developer Shigeru Miyamoto in the development process solidified that vision. Equally important was the choice of Illumination Entertainment, known for hits like the Despicable Me series, to ensure a quality, family-friendly animated production. The film generated significant buzz by casting well-known actors to voice the beloved characters, with Jack Black voicing Bowser and Chris Pratt as Mario.