The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Nintendo Direct has revealed the film’s long-awaited first trailer and provided some major casting details, as more Mushroom Kingdom characters get their big screen debut.
The broadcast aired at 6am Pacific / 9am Eastern or 2pm UK time today, Wednesday November 12, and included the news that Marvel superstar Brie Larsen will portray Galaxy’s cosmic princess Rosalina, while Bowser Jr. will also make his debut, voiced by Bennie Safdie.
Nintendo announced the surprise Direct earlier this week, following a teaser video in the company’s bumper September Direct. That short clip simply showed Mario napping before a sweeping shot of the Mushroom Kingdom took viewers up to the stars to reveal the film’s title.
Shigeru Miyamoto Introduces the Direct
Nintendo legend Shigeru MIyamoto introduced the trailer, before passing over to Illumination animation studio boss Chris Meledandri who promised the sequel would contain many new characters.
The fresh faces will join the returning core cast of Chris Pratt (Mario), Anya Taylor-Joy (Princess Peach), Charlie Day (Luigi), Jack Black (Bowser), Keegan-Michael Key (Toad) and Kevin Michael Richardson (Kamek).
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Trailer Begins…
Bowser is still miniature, left over from the end of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, as the trailer begins with a scene showing that he is still being caged up by Mario and Luigi. There’s not much to learn from this scene, other than the fact that Bowser is still not a huge fan of Mario, and still pining for Peach.
Still, Bowser appears friendlier to Luigi, and even apologises for getting grumpy. “That’s the old Bowser talking, still talking through my demons I suppose!” Jack Black’s miniaturized take on the character squeaks.
Bowser Jr. Confirmed, Played by Benny Safdie!
Bowser’s son is on a quest to save his dad! Yes, Bowser Jr. will indeed be introduced within the Super Mario Galaxy Movie, armed with his magic paintbrush that now doubles up as a spiked club. The item looks to be oozing a more metallic version of the paint first seen in Super Mario Sunshine.
The trailer shows Bowser Jr. turn up to claim his father back from Mario. Will he succeed? Probably, yes.
Does his voice sound familiar? Well, Uncut Gems and Oppenheimer actor Benny Safdie is set to portray Bowser Jr. in the film.
And he’s not the only character Nintendo just confirmed…
Brie Larsen is Princess Rosalina! 
Marvel superstar Brie Larsen will portray Nintendo’s cosmic princess! A series of quick shots show Rosalina inside a castle next to her Comet Observatory spaceship, before she is called outside to face Megaleg — a giant robot that served as Super Mario Galaxy’s first boss fight.
As seen in the Galaxy games, Rosalina is the guardian of the Lumas (who we saw one of in the first Mario movie), and reads them stories — including, it sounds like, tales of Peach and Mario.
Peach And (Captain?) Toad Head To Space!
In a change from the Galaxy games, Peach and her trusty Toad sidekick (who’s wearing a backpack very reminiscent of Captain Toad!) hop into space themselves — presumably in pursuit of Bowser Jr.
This is a different take to the opening of Super Mario Galaxy the game, as there is no invasion by Bowser (who is already defeated). Instead, Peach and Toad voluntarily leap through a set of Warp Stars into the cosmos.
Quick shots show a spherical aquatic planet with Bloopers, what looks to be Kamek on a motorbike riding through a desert, and Peach fighting off Ninjis with her parasol.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Poster Released
Nintendo and Universal have just unveiled a larger version of the movie’s key artwork, featuring Mario, Peach, Luigi and a series of Toads looking up at the stars.
We’re seeing what looks to be the Mushroom Kingdom’s Star Festival, seen at the beginning of Mario Galaxy, which celebrates a comet that passes through its skies every century. This event, as featured in today’s trailer, also seems to kick off Mario and Peach’s journey into space.
Developing…
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is expected to roughly adapt the plot of the Mario Galaxy games, which saw Mario befriend space princess Rosalina after the Mushroom Kingdom is once again placed in peril by Bowser.
The games themselves offer some of the most plot found in any Mario title, with intriguing hints to the parentage of Rosalina — and potentially Princess Peach — that have sparked years of fan discussions. Fans are now hoping The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will now offer some more concrete details surrounding Peach and Rosalina’s origins.
A major leak this week saw a series of hints to unconfirmed — but not unexpected — characters on special Mario Galaxy Movie-branded packs of Pillsbury cookie dough. The packaging gave us our best look yet at Yoshi, who was teased in The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s post-credits scene, as well as imagery that hinted at the appearance of both Bowser Jr. and Rosalina.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will officially launch in theaters on April 3, 2026. While we wait for updates, you can read about Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto and his life away from the iconic video game plumber.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social