The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) and the recent Super Mario Galaxy Movie are packed with a vast array of references from 40 years of Mario game history. These range from subtle cameos to major set pieces and plot points, all adapted with varying degrees of faithfulness from the original games. It’s safe to say more films are on the horizon; while nothing is officially confirmed yet, we anticipate sequels and spin-offs every two to three years, much like the Minions franchise.
This got us thinking: what’s the next logical step for the film series? A lot of the Mario universe has already been explored, but there’s still plenty more that deserves cinematic treatment. Here, we predict the most likely premises, characters, and locations we expect to see in The Super Mario Bros. Movie 3… starting, of course, with its title.
After Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Galaxy, what will the next film be called? Here are our predictions… but be warned, do not read further if you haven’t seen The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. HUGE SPOILERS AHEAD. Seriously, MAJOR SPOILERS for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
The Super Mario Odyssey Movie
The first film was named after Super Mario Bros., both the familiar series title and the inaugural official game from 1985. If the goal was to adapt major Mario game eras chronologically, The Super Mario World Movie, based on the 1991 game, would have been the logical follow-up. Instead, Illumination jumped directly to Galaxy, drawing inspiration from the Wii games released between 2007 and 2010 – arguably the series’ pinnacle in terms of storytelling and world-building.
This leads us to believe that The Super Mario Odyssey Movie would be the most logical title for the next installment. However, this presents a significant challenge: many of the best elements from the 2017 Switch game have already appeared in the first two films. We’ve seen Peach and Bowser’s wedding, Tostarena and the Sand Kingdom, the dinosaur, the Ruined Dragon, and even the Brooklyn segments of the first film evoked the feel of New Donk City.
Creating an Odyssey movie without the wedding plot, which has already been done, would feel somewhat incomplete. They could focus on Cappy and his sister Tiara, introducing the Broodals as new villains. But, to be honest, those characters weren’t particularly memorable. Moreover, Mario’s ability to possess enemies and animals, while an incredibly cool gameplay mechanic, doesn’t easily translate into a major narrative component for a film.
The Super Mario Land Movie
A significant long-term challenge for the film series is the scarcity of compelling villains, a struggle also faced by the Sonic movies. Bowser (and Robotnik) are cool, but can they truly sustain an entire franchise with the same antagonist repeatedly? The Mario universe doesn’t boast many villains beyond Bowser (and Donkey Kong, who, having turned heroic, doesn’t really count). However, there is one notable exception. Or perhaps two: Wario and Waluigi, arguably the biggest Mario characters yet to appear in the films. We saw Daisy in Galaxy’s post-credits scene, which strongly hints at Super Mario Land.
The red-haired princess (also referenced when Luigi asks Mario to inquire if Peach has a friend) debuted in Super Mario Land in 1989. Wario first appeared in Super Mario Land 2 (1992). There’s ample material to base a third film in the quirky kingdom of Sarasaland, potentially leading to some truly deep-cut cameos. The major hurdle, however, is that ‘The Super Mario Land Movie’ doesn’t sound as epic as ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,’ which could make it commercially less appealing as a trilogy finale. This highlights a core issue for the series: nothing truly feels grander than Galaxy, apart from Odyssey – and as we’ve noted, much of that game’s content has already been adapted.
The Untitled Super Mario 3D Game Releasing in 2027 Movie
Perhaps there is something grander than Galaxy and Odyssey… the next major Mario universe game, rumored for a 2027 release and anticipated as the true successor to Mario Odyssey. We expect this to be something entirely new (not Galaxy 3 or Odyssey 2). If it launches in 2027, a film released in 2028 or 2029 could conceivably share its name and draw direct inspiration from whatever Yoshiaki Koizumi’s team is currently developing. Given the close relationship between Nintendo and Illumination, the idea of parallel development for a game and a film isn’t inconceivable. However, we’re not convinced this would be the right move; it could lead many to assume the game is merely an adaptation of the film, potentially devaluing Nintendo’s original product. Plus, there are other, more intriguing options, such as…
The Super Mario Sunshine Movie
This 2002 GameCube classic undoubtedly features one of the most distinctive worlds and stories in the Mario series. Delfino Isle would look absolutely gorgeous on screen, offering a unique aesthetic. It could also provide an opportunity for the characters to spend quality time together on vacation, allowing the relationship between Mario and Peach to be properly explored before Bowser Jr. steps up as the primary antagonist this time. The challenge, however, is that Super Mario Sunshine is a very niche game (as niche as a Mario game can get) and, once again, less commercially appealing than Galaxy (though arguably more exciting than simply ‘Land’). If done well, it could be a film brimming with personality, and a perfect excuse for a summer release instead of a spring one.
The Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury Movie
While a relatively obscure title, having been a bonus addition to a larger game, Bowser’s Fury holds genuine potential for a cool storyline. In this adventure, Bowser Jr. teams up with Mario to stop an enraged Bowser, who has transformed into a colossal monster, before Mario himself becomes a giant cat. This scenario would provide an excellent reason to feature Bowser as the main villain again and could create an interesting dynamic between Mario, Bowser Jr., and Bowser—a dynamic that was one of the best aspects of the Galaxy movie. The main issue, however, is that Galaxy already presented a similar premise with Mario teaming up with Bowser and rescuing Bowser Jr. from a giant dragon created by Bowser. Furthermore, there aren’t many supporting characters to build upon the promise of Daisy becoming a new major character.
The Super Mario Bros. Wonder Movie
Released in 2023, Wonder is the most recent mainline Mario game, making it a commercially viable option for the film’s title. It also features Daisy and even Rosalina in its Switch 2 version. The downside is that while the game is fun, its story is extremely basic, and its world isn’t particularly engaging. What could be cinematic fun, though, would be bringing the ‘Wonder Effects’ to the big screen, perhaps experimenting with various animation styles, a vibrant mix of colors and special effects, and new musical numbers. This would be a chance for Illumination to truly let loose… but let’s be realistic, this studio isn’t Sony or DreamWorks, which are far more prone to taking visual risks. However, it could serve as an excellent introduction for the Koopalings, who are bound to make their cinematic debut sooner or later, perhaps as Bowser Jr.’s siblings or cousins. The Koopalings are prominent in the recently launched Switch 2 edition of the game, allowing more players to familiarize themselves with them before the next movie.
Spin-offs
Perhaps the next Mario film won’t be a direct sequel… but a spin-off. Indeed, this would be an excellent way to keep audiences engaged and flesh out individual characters before a more significant story unfolds in the third main Mario saga installment. Here are the most probable spin-off ideas:
- Luigi’s Mansion: Starring Charlie Day, a Luigi’s Mansion spin-off would still allow Mario, Peach, Toad, and most of the universe’s characters to appear, almost functioning as a sequel but with a clear focus on Luigi. Released around Halloween with some very light scares for kids, it could be a major hit.
- Star Fox: A Star Fox movie featuring Glen Powell feels almost inevitable, especially given rumors of not one but two new games in the relatively obscure series coming soon to the Switch 2. The characters also possess immense potential for a film filled with epic space battles, all while emphasizing themes of friendship and camaraderie.
- Princess Peach Showtime: It’s evident that Nintendo and Illumination aim to portray Peach as more than just a damsel in distress, so giving her a solo film would be a fantastic idea. While adapting the 2024 game where Peach dons various theatrical outfits could be cool, we’d anticipate something entirely new for Anya Taylor-Joy’s portrayal.
- Yoshi’s Island: The Mario Bros.’ origin from the real world makes a direct Yoshi’s Island adaptation challenging for the film universe. Moreover, the baby scene in Galaxy already served as a significant Easter egg, arguably covering that ground. However, another type of story centered on Donald Glover’s Yoshi could still happen, potentially featuring Bowser Jr. as the antagonist, given his appearance in the upcoming Yoshi and the Mysterious Book.
- Donkey Kong Country: The most probable spin-off remains one centered on Seth Rogen’s Donkey Kong, who was absent from the Super Mario Galaxy Movie. With renewed interest in the character following Donkey Kong Bananza, this film could introduce numerous members of the Kong family and reintroduce Pauline into the Mario movie universe after her brief cameo in the first film.
Ultimately, while there are countless possibilities for sequels, we worry that Nintendo and Illumination may have jumped the gun by rushing the Mario Galaxy storyline into only the second film – a movie that, some might argue, doesn’t entirely do justice to the games. The excitement for the Galaxy movie was immense, but will they be able to sustain that momentum for third, fourth, or even fifth films, having already used one of their strongest cards? We’ll have to wait and see… In the meantime, these are our best guesses regarding the subject (and title) of the next film in the Super Mario universe. Do you agree with our predictions? Do you think we’re on the right track? Or do you have other ideas? Let us know!