'Super Mario Galaxy Movie' Trailer and Reveals First Look at Yoshi

January 26, 2026

Out of This World: Nintendo Debuts 'Super Mario Galaxy Movie' Trailer and Reveals First Look at Yoshi

KYOTO, JAPAN — The Mushroom Kingdom is officially heading to the stars. Following the $1.36 billion (approx £1 billion) success of their first cinematic outing, Nintendo and Illumination have pulled back the curtain on the highly anticipated sequel, officially titled The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

In a surprise Nintendo Direct presentation hosted by legendary creator Shigeru Miyamoto on Sunday, the studio released a breathtaking new trailer that confirms the franchise is pivoting from the "World" to the "Galaxy." The teaser also delivered the moment fans have been waiting for since 2023: the big-screen debut of Yoshi.

A Galactic Leap Forward

While the first film focused on the origin of the brothers in Brooklyn and the Mushroom Kingdom, the trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie showcases a massive expansion in scope. Inspired by the 2007 Wii masterpiece, the footage follows Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) as they launch into deep space to thwart a new, cosmic threat.

Key highlights from the trailer include:

The Return of the Dino: The trailer concludes with Mario and Luigi investigating a blocked warp pipe in the "Sand Kingdom" (a nod to Super Mario Odyssey), only to discover a fearful, mumbling Yoshi.
New Power-Ups: Fans were treated to high-fidelity glimpses of the Bee Suit, Fire Flowers, and even Luigi sporting the classic Frog Suit.
Rosalina and Bowser Jr.: The trailer re-confirmed Brie Larson as the voice of the ethereal Princess Rosalina and Benny Safdie as the mischievous Bowser Jr., who appears to be leading a mission to break his father out of his "tiny" prison.

Deep Cuts and Nostalgia

True to form, Nintendo is packing the sequel with "deep cut" characters. The trailer features the first animated appearances of Birdo, the egg-spitting pink dinosaur, and Mouser, a rodent boss character from 1988’s Super Mario Bros. 2.

“We are thinking about broadening Mario’s world even further this time,” Shigeru Miyamoto stated during the Direct. “The animation work is now fully complete, and we are in the final stages of post-production to ensure this galaxy feels as vibrant as the games fans love.”

The "April Fools" Release Date

In a cheeky move, Nintendo announced that the film’s release date has been brought forward. Originally slated for April 3, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will now land in theaters globally on 1st April 2026.

The move is designed to align the U.S., UK, and European releases, creating a massive global "Mario Day" event. Japan will follow with a slightly later release on 24th April 2026.

A Musical Masterpiece

The trailer (below) also featured a soaring, orchestral score by returning composer Brian Tyler. Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri confirmed that the soundtrack was recorded with a 70-piece orchestra and includes remastered themes from the original Super Mario Galaxy games, which are also reportedly being re-ported to the "Switch 2" later this year.

As Mario rides Yoshi through a field of Star Bits at the trailer's end, it’s clear that Nintendo isn't just making a sequel, they’re building a cinematic universe.