The Super Mario Bros. Movie proved to be an astounding success for Nintendo, amassing over $1 billion at the box office. Consequently, the decision to produce a sequel was a straightforward one. In a recent video, Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto and Chris Meledandri of Illumination Entertainment announced that the next installment is currently in development, with a scheduled release date of April 3rd, 2026.
Meledandri disclosed that Illumination Studios Paris, the team behind the first film, is currently storyboarding the sequel, under the guidance of Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, who will once again take up the directorial reins. He further revealed that animation production is set to commence shortly. Following its release in the United States on April 3rd, the film will be rolled out in “many other markets globally” initially, with subsequent releases in “select territories” throughout the remainder of the month.
Miyamoto shared insights into the upcoming movie, stating that it will present “a bright and fun story” that builds upon the universe established in the original film.
With the recent announcement in November of a live-action Legend of Zelda film, Nintendo now has two confirmed movie projects in the works based on its prominent intellectual properties. While details regarding the company’s theatrical plans for the Legend of Zelda adaptation remain scarce, it has been confirmed that Wes Ball, known for directing the Maze Runner trilogy and the forthcoming Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, will lead the project, with Avi Arad and Miyamoto serving as producers.
Nintendo also provided updates on gaming releases, announcing that the Switch remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door and Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, a remastered version of the 3DS title Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, are set to hit shelves on May 23rd and June 27th, respectively. Furthermore, on March 12th, the Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy collection will be expanded to include Dr. Mario for the original Game Boy, alongside Mario Golf and Mario Tennis for the Game Boy Color.
