Donald Glover lends his voice to Yoshi – and he’s not the only celebrity addition to the cast of “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.” All stars at a glance.
Just in time for Mario Day on March 10, 2026, the new movie “The Super Mario Galaxy Film” was presented as part of a “Nintendo Direct” live stream. In the presentation, the actors of the last film welcome the audience together with Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto.
Miyamoto explained that Nintendo has been working on several Mario 40th anniversary projects since last year. The new film is the central project of these celebrations.
Expansion of the Mario film universe
The animated film expands the universe of its successful predecessor “The Super Mario Bros. Film” with new characters, new worlds and several prominent voices.
Producer Chris Meledandri announced in the livestream that many of the well-known speakers were returning and several new stars were joining the ensemble. The final trailer for the film was also released.
You can watch the presentation and the trailer here, it starts at minute 29:
New prominent voices in the cast
One of the most prominent new additions to the ensemble is Donald Glover, who lends his voice to the dinosaur Yoshi. His recording is intended to be used internationally, so Glover will also be heard in the German version of the film.
Also new is Issa Rae, who takes on the role of Honey Queen. The character originally comes from the “Super Mario Galaxy” games and is considered one of the most striking supporting characters in the cosmic game world.
Brie Larson also joins the cast and voices the mysterious Princess Rosalina, a central figure in the galactic plot. In addition, Benny Safdie takes on the voice of Bowser Jr., the son of the Koopa King.
Another new addition is Luis Guzmán, who voices the classic antagonist Wart. The character comes from the early game history of the series and celebrates her comeback in the film.
Return of the familiar voices
In addition to the new voices, numerous well-known speakers from the predecessor also return and ensure continuity in the Mario film universe.
Chris Pratt reprises the role of Mario, while Charlie Day returns as Luigi. Anya Taylor-Joy once again voices Princess Peach, who also plays a central role in the new adventure. Jack Black also returns as Bowser and once again lends his distinctive voice to the villain.
Keegan-Michael Key once again lends his voice to Toad, Kevin Michael Richardson once again voices the magician Kamek.
Plot: Adventures in space
In terms of content, the film begins after the events of the first part. Mario, Luigi and Peach have to face the villain Bowser again. This time he receives support from his son Bowser Jr. Together they threaten the Mushroom Kingdom and force the heroes to take on a new mission.
The adventure takes the characters into space for the first time, where they travel through various planets and meet new allies like Rosalina and Yoshi. The locations range from volcanic landscapes to underwater planets to futuristic areas with gravity-altering obstacles.
Creative team behind the film
Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic will again direct. The screenplay is again by Matthew Fogel, while Brian Tyler composes the music. The film is produced by Illumination in collaboration with Nintendo and Universal Pictures.
Cinema release and expectations
The theatrical release of “The Super Mario Galaxy Film” is scheduled for April 1, 2026. The predecessor became one of the most successful animated films of all time in 2023, with global box office earnings of over $1.3 billion. The expectations for the new intergalactic adventure of Mario and his friends are correspondingly high.
