Nintendo and Illumination have unveiled a brand-new trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie during a Nintendo Direct presentation broadcast on January 25, 2026. This new video finally gives us a long-awaited first look at Yoshi, Mario’s loyal dinosaur companion, and confirms an earlier-than-expected release date.

Yoshi makes his big-screen debut

The trailer reveals how Mario and Luigi discover Yoshi after finding a hatched egg while investigating a clogged pipe. This marks the character’s first official appearance in the Mario cinematic universe, following his tease in the post-credits scene of the first film released in 2023. Yoshi, who debuted in 1990 in Super Mario World on the Super Nintendo, has become one of the franchise’s most beloved characters across several generations of Nintendo games.

The new footage doesn’t focus solely on Yoshi. We also catch glimpses of Birdo fighting Princess Peach, Mouser (a boss character from Super Mario Bros. 2) who looks rather worn out, Lakitu in action, as well as Baby Mario and Baby Luigi, although the context of their appearance remains a mystery.

A returning voice cast

For the English version, Chris Pratt reprises his role as Mario alongside Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, and Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek. New additions include Brie Larson as Rosalina and Benny Safdie, who lends his voice to Bowser Jr.

A French-dubbed version was also shown after the Nintendo Direct. The French voice cast for this sequel has not yet been officially announced, but it is worth recalling that the first film benefited from an excellent French dub featuring Pierre Tessier (Mario), Audrey Sourdive (Princess Peach), Benoît Du Pac (Luigi), Jérémie Covillault (Bowser), Emmanuel Garijo (Toad), Xavier Fagnon (Donkey Kong), Nicolas Marié (Cranky Kong), and Thierry Desroses (the Penguin King). This French version received very positive feedback, to the point where some American viewers expressed envy of it on social media.

Release date moved up to April 1, 2026

Good news for impatient fans: the release date has been moved up by two days. The film will now be released on April 1, 2026 in many countries, including the United States and France, instead of the initially planned April 3. Japan will have to wait until April 24, 2026. The movie will be available in RealD 3D and IMAX.

Let’s not forget the phenomenal success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, released in 2023, which shattered box-office records with over $1.36 billion in worldwide revenue, becoming the most lucrative video game adaptation of all time. Analysts are already predicting a massive opening for this sequel, driven by nostalgia and a large adult fan base that grew up with Mario.

A journey across the galaxies

Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, with a screenplay by Matthew Fogel (all three returning after the first film), The Super Mario Galaxy Movie draws strong inspiration from Super Mario Galaxy, released on Wii in 2007. The film will follow Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad on a space-faring adventure across the galaxy to face Bowser Jr., Bowser’s son.

According to the producers, the movie will also include surprise elements and references to other Mario games, with iconic locations such as the Sand Kingdom, briefly seen at the beginning of the trailer and sure to remind viewers of their adventures in one of the early levels of Super Mario Odyssey.

Chris Meledandri, founder and CEO of Illumination, and Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of the franchise and Nintendo representative, once again serve as co-producers on this highly anticipated film.

See you in theaters on April 1, 2026, for this new galactic adventure!