Illumination and Nintendo announced that they would release Mario Movie 2 after the massive success of the Super Mario Bros. movie. Find out more details about the ongoing project discussions.
Mario Movie 2 Official Release Date
Illumination (HQ: Santa Monica, CA, USA; Founder and CEO: Chris Meledandri) and Nintendo Co., Ltd. (HQ: Kyoto, Minami-ku, Japan; Representative Director and President: Shuntaro Furukawa, “Nintendo” hereafter) announced on their official page that they will be making a new animated movie based on the cinematic universe of Super Mario.
The announcement also mentioned that Mario Movie 2 will be released on April 3, 2026, in the United States. Subsequent release dates will be announced for other territories.
Mario Movie 2 Creative Team and Expected Cast Members
The crew members working behind the new Mario Movie 2 were also disclosed in the announcement.
Additionally, Nintendo promised to make a fun story that would put a smile on everyone’s face. The message also included:
“Nintendo will continue its efforts to produce unique entertainment and deliver it to as many people as possible.”
Meledandri also confirmed the directing members who will be working on the project with Illumination Studios Paris. He said that the animation should begin soon. Miyamoto confirmed that Mario Movie 2 “will expand on the world established in the first movie.”
- Produced by Chris Meledandri (Founder and CEO of Illumination) and Shigeru Miyamoto (representative director, fellow of Nintendo)
- Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic
- Written by Matthew Fogel
- Co-financed by Universal Pictures and Nintendo
- Distributed worldwide by Universal Pictures.
In the message, the production house Illumination also expressed excitement about collaborating with Nintendo for Mario Movie 2.
“bringing its signature mix of joy and discovery to worldwide audiences of all ages, allowing them to connect with the beloved characters and stories from one of the world’s most popular franchises.”
Illumination was founded in 2007 and has great animated films associated with it. These include Despicable Me and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, two of the most successful animated projects of all time.
Furthermore, the production house has worked on many notable animated releases, such as Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax, The Grinch, and The Secret Life of Pets.
One of their other highly anticipated projects is Despicable Me 4, which will be released on July 3, 2024.
The cast members for Mario Movie 2 have not been confirmed yet. However, the same members are expected to return from the 2023 movie. It includes the following voice actors:
- Chris Pratt playing Mario
- Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach
- Keegan-Michael Key as Toad
- Charlie Day as Luigi
- Jack Black as Bowser
- Seth Rogan as Donkey Kong
Moreover, the announcement does not directly confirm that Mario Movie 2 will be a direct sequel to the Super Mario Bros. movie. Hence, the cast members could undergo massive changes.
Possible Clashes Between Disney’s Release Schedule and The Mario Movie 2 in 2026
Comparisons in revenues generated from Disney and Illumination movies show inevitable competition for the companies in 2026.
The first part of Illumination’s Super Mario Movie was released in 2023 and was a box-office success, raking up around $1.5 billion in revenue. It starkly contrasted with Disney’s House of Mouse, which flopped at the box office. Disney lost around $900 million on the movies that did not soar as much as anticipated.
Hence, Disney CEO Bob Iger stepped out of retirement to create an exciting movie lineup. Only time will tell if Illumination or Disney movies will dominate the box office in 2026.
Furthermore, according to the statistics released on the site, Disney has been desperately trying to regenerate the $11 billion revenue it amassed back in 2019. Hence, they have an extensive lineup of movies planned for 2026, including the following:
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is scheduled for May 1, 2026
The Mandalorian & Grogu is releasing on May 22, 2026
Toy Story 5 is coming out on June 19, 2026
Frozen 3 is releasing on November 25, 2026
Star Wars: The New Jedi Order is coming out on December 18, 2026
Most of these franchises helped Disney garner box-office hits in 2019. Illumination’s Super Mario Movie 2 can be a massive threat because it is fun and fresh. It was also a top-viewed movie on the online streaming platform Netflix for eleven weeks, from March 4 to March 10, 2024.
Nintendo is also producing a live-action Legend of Zelda film. It will be directed by Wes Ball and produced by Avi Arad, but Sony Pictures Entertainment will be the production company.
