Nintendo and Illumination have announced their partnership to create a sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The highly anticipated sequel is set to be released in theaters on April 3, 2026, in the U.S. and internationally.
Following the success of the 2023 film, which broke records for game adaptations by grossing .36 billion globally, Nintendo and Illumination are eager to continue the story of everyone’s favorite plumber. The previous film not only boosted box office revenue but also led to increased sales of Nintendo games and reached a massive audience of at least 168 million viewers worldwide.
Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic will be directing the sequel, with Matthew Fogel penning the screenplay. One key factor in the success of the previous film was the close involvement of Nintendo’s game creators in the production process. The upcoming film will be co-financed by Universal Pictures and Nintendo and distributed worldwide by Universal.
Melendantri, founder and CEO of Illumination, and Shigeru Miyamoto, representative director and fellow of Nintendo, will serve as producers on the new project. Illumination, known for hits like Despicable Me, The Lorax, The Grinch, and The Secret Life of Pets, expressed their excitement to continue collaborating with Nintendo, promising to bring the magic of the franchise to audiences of all ages worldwide.
Fans of the Super Mario Bros. can look forward to another thrilling adventure on the big screen. Happy Mario Day!
