The Super Mario Galaxy Movie sets up a much bigger universe of Nintendo characters. The sequel to 2023’s hit family film, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the newly released sequel is bigger and more crowded than its predecessor, leaving some characters with less screentime than fans might have hoped.
All hope isn’t lost for audiences hoping to see more of their favorite Mario characters after the latest film. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie sets up multiple exciting spin-off adventures that could easily make for great films with characters other than Mario in the lead role. These films would all be perfect for expanding the world of Nintendo’s growing cinematic universe.
A Starfox Movie Could Follow Glenn Powell’s Suave Fighter Pilot
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie introduces a major new Nintendo character who is clearly on his way to getting his very own spinoff film. Glenn Powell stars as Fox McCloud, a legendary pilot from another galaxy who found himself stranded with a broken warp drive. Princess Peach recruits him to help out with their mission, and he later gets the chance to return home thanks to Princess Rosalina.
Nintendo fans recognize Fox McCloud as the protagonist of the Starfox video game series. This franchise would be perfect for a big-screen adaptation, depicting the epic dogfights and sci-fi battles that have become synonymous with the Starfox brand. Audiences even get a brief sneak peek at the rest of Fox’s team while he recounts his misfortunes, setting up all of them to appear in a Starfox spinoff. After the extremely positive reactions to Powell’s rendition of the character, a Starfox movie seems inevitable.
Donkey Kong Country Would Fix The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s Biggest Exclusion
One character notoriously missing from The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is Donkey Kong. Seth Rogen’s iconic character was a fan-favorite in the first movie, but only makes a brief, unspeaking cameo in the sequel. While many fans might have been disappointed in his absence, Donkey Kong may already have his next big-screen appearance lined up, this time as the lead character.
It was reported last year that Nintendo had filed a copyright for a film titled Donkey Kong Country, indicating that the king of the apes will next appear in his own spinoff. This would give Donkey Kong more time to shine without taking important screentime from Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach. It would also allow for Illumination and Nintendo to flesh out Donkey Kong’s supporting cast, including characters like Diddy Kong and Cranky Kong, who made brief cameos in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
There’s still a lot that fans don’t know about a potential Donkey Kong spinoff, but the chances remain high that audiences will see him return to the big screen before too long. Hopefully, this would be an adaptation of the character’s best game, Donkey Kong Bananza.
Luigi’s Haunted Mansion Would Finally Put an Underrated Hero in the Spotlight
Luigi is better known as the sidekick to his older brother, Mario, but he has a few adventures of his own that would work on the big screen. Luigi’s Haunted Mansion is an iconic spin-off video game franchise that follows Luigi as he battles ghosts and other horrors in his titular haunted mansion. Though he scares easily, Luigi always manages to overcome his fears and emerge as a hero.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie hints at Luigi finally getting his iconic haunted mansion during the character’s brief solo mission after arriving in the Mushroom Kingdom. He escapes a mansion filled with terrors, barely making it out with his life. If he were ever to return to this horror-filled haunted house, Luigi could easily lead his own spinoff movie as he battles ghosts and ghouls.
There’s Room for a Metroid Movie in the Nintendo Cinematic Universe
Although The Super Mario Galaxy Movie makes no mention of Samus Aran or the Metroid franchise, it makes clear that multiple other Nintendo franchises exist in its vast universe. If a character like Fox McCloud can exist alongside Mario and the gang, then any other Nintendo video game series is fair game for future movies. As Illumination looks at other games to adapt for the big screen, it would be a massive mistake to ignore Metroid.
The Metroid video game franchise is a vast sci-fi franchise on par with that of Star Wars or Star Trek. It features a beloved female lead in the form of Samus Aran, an intergalactic bounty hunter who engages in the universe’s most dangerous missions. This is the perfect opportunity for Illumination and Nintendo to partner up for a more mature, action-oriented franchise that still fits within the world of The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
A Mario vs. Sonic Movie Would Unite Two Massive Franchises
In a new age of video game adaptations, two iconic characters take center stage in their own respective franchises. Mario and Sonic have long been pitted against one another as rivals in the video game world, but have yet to ever meet on the big screen. After The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and ahead of the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 4, it’s finally time for Mario and Sonic to go head-to-head in theaters.
Mario and Sonic coming together would make for the cinematic event of the decade, as audiences choose their sides. This would also open the door for the characters’ supporting casts to come together. Audiences would love to see characters like Princess Peach and Amy interact, or even see a matchup between Bowser and Doctor Eggman. The possibilities are endless when it comes to a massive cinematic crossover like Mario vs. Sonic.
Though these two franchises come from different studios, there is some precedent for similar crossovers. For example, Spider-Man’s adventures in the MCU are only possible thanks to a deal between Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios. If Paramount and Universal are able to reach a similar deal, Chris Pratt’s Mario and Ben Schwartz’s Sonic the Hedgehog could finally meet on the big screen for the first time ever.
Super Smash Bros. Would Be Nintendo’s Avengers Moment
If there’s one thing that Nintendo fans want after The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, it’s a Super Smash Bros. adaptation. Super Smash Bros. is a video game franchise that brings together all of Nintendo’s most iconic characters to duke it out in an epic battle royale. The games feature everyone, from Mario and Luigi to Link, and even Mr. Game and Watch (who makes a surprise appearance in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie).
Super Smash Bros. would be a crossover event on par with that of Marvel’s Avengers movies. Especially as Illumination’s cast of Nintendo characters continues to grow, the natural end result would be a crossover of some kind. While the franchise could feasibly take many different directions for its epic Avengers-level crossover, fans’ first choice would be Super Smash Bros. every single time.
Although there are some problems with fans’ Super Smash Bros. movie theories, it’s not too distant a dream. Nintendo already has adaptations of iconic characters like Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Fox McCloud, Mr. Game and Watch, and more. Furthermore, other beloved personalities like Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf are also on their way in the upcoming Legend of Zelda live-action movie. With a few more tentpole franchises, Nintendo and Illumination would have more than enough characters to bring together in an epic crossover event, adapting the Super Smash Bros. video games.
- Release Date
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April 1, 2026
- Runtime
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98 Minutes
- Director
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Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Pierre Leduc, Fabien Polack
- Writers
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Matthew Fogel
- Producers
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Chris Meledandri, Shigeru Miyamoto