The first Super Mario Bros. Movie, released in 2023, became a massive box office sensation, pulling in well over a billion dollars worldwide and proving that video-game adaptations could anchor major summer seasons. Built on bright visuals, fast-paced humor, and a stacked voice cast led by Chris Pratt, it turned Nintendo’s pixel-era mascot into a bona fide cinematic blockbuster.

With its success firmly cemented, the stage is now set for the sequel. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is shaping up to be even bigger, with a broader, even more star-studded lineup taking the Mushroom Kingdom to the cosmos.

Fox McCloud: As of yet, it is not confirmed who will voice Fox McCloud, but he is slated to appear as the iconic Star Fox pilot, bringing his Arwing and Lylat‑system swagger into the Mushroom Kingdom for the first time in the cinematic universe. 

Chris Pratt as Mario: Pratt returns as the voice of Mario, reprising the cheerful, can‑do plumber who leads the charge across increasingly cosmic environments. His performance continues to anchor the series’ tone, blending lighthearted humor with the kind of underdog determination that defines the character in both games and the earlier film.

Anya Taylor‑Joy as Princess Peach: Taylor‑Joy reprises her role as Princess Peach, now stepping into even more adventurous territory as the story expands beyond traditional Mushroom Kingdom politics. Her arc leans into the character’s resilience and agency, positioning her as both a diplomat and an active participant in the larger galactic conflict.

Charlie Day as Luigi: Day returns as Luigi, once again supplying comic relief and heartfelt support as Mario’s nervous but loyal brother. His expanded role in the sequel allows more room for his personality quirks and insecurities to shine amid the heightened stakes of interplanetary travel.

Jack Black as Bowser: Black continues as the flamboyant, larger‑than‑life Bowser, balancing the villain’s menacing presence with his signature over‑the‑top bravado. As the story stretches into the galaxy, Bowser’s ambitions grow alongside the scale of the world, making him a volatile force across multiple planets.

Brie Larson as Rosalina: Larson joins the cast as Rosalina, bringing a mix of regal calm and quiet strength to the cosmic guardian of the Comet Observatory. Her presence deepens the film’s emotional backbone, tying together themes of family, loss, and the responsibility of protecting the galaxy.

The cast also features Luis Guzmán as Wart, Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr., Donald Glover as Yoshi, and Issa Rae as the Honey Queen: Guzmán. This roster suggests that the sequel is not just another platform-game adaptation, but a full-fledged intergalactic adventure that finally gives the Star Fox universe its big-screen moment alongside Mario’s return to the galaxy.

'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' Set for Early 2026 Release – Here’s When It Will Hit Theaters

While the Mario cast expands with Star Fox, other video-game adaptations are also making big moves this year.

This year is shaping up to be a major moment for video-game-based blockbusters, with two long-awaited brawls finally hitting the screen: Mortal Kombat’s next big cinematic outing and a fresh Street Fighter movie, both slated for 2026 releases. Mortal Kombat II is building on the success of the 2021 film, doubling down on its signature hyper-violent, tournament-style clashes while expanding the lore of Outworld and Earthrealm, with higher-stakes tournament politics and deeper character arcs for fan-favorite fighters like Liu Kang, Scorpion, and Sub-Zero.

On the Street Fighter side, the new movie promises to lean into the global rivalry between Ryu and Ken, while pulling in other key fighters such as Chun-Li, Guile, and M. Bison, aiming for a blend of martial-arts spectacle and character-driven drama. What makes these films stand out is their attempt to treat the source material seriously. Both projects are investing in practical fight choreography and strong ensemble casting, positioning them less as campy tie-ins and more as proper action franchises in their own right. 

In that sense, they sit right alongside The Super Mario Galaxy Movie as part of a wider boom in video-game-based cinema. Across Mario, Mortal Kombat, and Street Fighter, it is clear that studios now see gaming universes not as niche curiosities, but as the next big source of blockbuster franchises, meaning video-game movies are officially the new normal in Hollywood.

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What do you think about the Star Fox character joining The Super Mario Galaxy Movie? Let us know in the comments