Nintendo and Illumination Launch ‘Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Super Bowl Teaser
To the Stars and Beyond: Nintendo and Illumination Launch ‘Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Super Bowl Teaser
SANTA CLARA, CA — The Mushroom Kingdom is officially trading its green pipes for gravity-defying planetoids. During yesterday's Super Bowl LX clash between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, Universal Pictures and Nintendo blasted off with a high-octane 30-second teaser for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (trailer below).
The spot, titled “Level Up,” confirms that the highly anticipated sequel to 2023’s billion-dollar blockbuster is set to orbit theaters globally starting 1st April 2026.
Yoshi’s Big Debut
While the first film teased a certain green dinosaur in its post-credits scene, the Super Bowl trailer gave fans their most visceral look yet at Yoshi in action. In a sequence that has already sparked a wave of memes, Yoshi is seen utilizing his signature tongue to devour Kamek (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson) before promptly popping him out as a spotted egg.
The teaser also highlights a comedic, Super Mario Odyssey-inspired chase sequence where a realistic T-Rex pursues a terrified Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) alongside "Baby" versions of Mario and Luigi.
The Galactic Protectors
Expanding the scope beyond the Mushroom Kingdom, the footage introduces the ethereal Princess Rosalina, voiced by Academy Award winner Brie Larson. From the deck of the Comet Observatory, Rosalina warns that the "fabric of the universe is unraveling," setting a higher stakes tone for the sequel.
The "cosmic" threat appears to be led by a new antagonist: Bowser Jr. (voiced by Benny Safdie). The young prince is seen piloting a massive, mechanical "Megaleg", a direct nod to one of the most iconic boss fights from the 2007 Super Mario Galaxy Wii game.
“The great battle of my life draws near!” Bowser Jr. declares in the trailer, signaling a more personal vendetta against the Mario brothers while his father, Bowser (Jack Black), remains imprisoned.
Gravitational Mechanics & Visuals
Returning directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic appear to be pushing Illumination’s animation to new heights. The trailer showcases stunning "gravity-shift" mechanics, with Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) running upside down and leaping between small planetoids amidst shimmering nebulae.
The film marks a centerpiece of Nintendo’s 40th-anniversary celebrations for the Super Mario franchise, following the recent re-release of both Super Mario Galaxy games on the Nintendo Switch.
Release Schedule
Produced by Chris Meledandri and Shigeru Miyamoto, the film is looking to match or exceed the $1.36 billion success of its predecessor.
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1st April 2026: International rollout begins.
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3rd April 2026: North American theatrical release.
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24th April 2026: Japan release.
As the trailer concludes with Mario and his crew boarding a Starship Mario-themed vessel, one thing is certain: for the world's most famous plumber, the sky was never the limit.
