Super Mario’s Third Film Locks In Release Window

Well then, here we go again with Nintendo and Illumination’s unstoppable Mario juggernaut. Just as everyone is still coming down from all the multi-coloured fireworks of Super Mario Galaxy Movie, one of the key voice actors has lobbed fresh news our way about the next big screen outing for the plumber and his mates. Yes, we’re getting a third Mario film, it's officially in motion—although we'll all need a bit of patience before it lands.

Third Time's the Charm (Eventually)

Keegan-Michael Key, who voices Toad with that manic, glorious energy you can’t really fake, has been out saying the third Mario film is pencilled in for a cinema release in 2029. Yes, you read that right—a good five years away. Personally, that feels like we're talking about the next World Cup, not a cartoon mushroom. But, in classic Hollywood fashion, Key says the "slow and steady" approach is all about quality, not just churning out sequels to cash in on the hype.

"We want to get everything right. We want to get all the details right. And Michael and Aaron, who are our directors, have a real passion for this. I think they're as passionate about these projects as the audience is. And so we got to get it right, we got to get it right. So I apologize. But it'll be worth the wait. It'll be worth the wait…'29 is better than sometime, right?"

Not exactly hard news, but Key’s talking points do echo what Jack Black (Bowser, in his own, what-will-he-scream-next way) has implied about the pace of these films—they’re in no rush.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

• Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023): Raked in $1.36 billion worldwide—about what you’d expect when Mario mania takes over cinemas.
• Sequel – Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026): Premiered on 1 April (no joke), and has become the highest-grossing film of the year, topping the likes of Project Hail Mary and, yes, The Devil Wears Prada 2. Storywise, it’s classic Nintendo: Mario, Peach, Luigi and the gang have to rescue Princess Rosalina from Bowser and his upstart kid, Bowser Jr. So, bigger, shinier, and some actual galactic stakes this time round.
• Critical Nods: The first film even nabbed three Golden Globe nominations, including Best Animated Feature, cementing Mario’s move from the console to the Hollywood A-list.

Where Are We Now?

If you’re itching to watch Galaxy on your telly at home: the digital release is already out there. Physical copies hit shelves on 16 June. Still no word on when it’ll show up on Peacock—so if you’re holding out for streaming, keep an eye out, but don’t hold your breath.

Officially, Universal and Illumination haven’t announced the third film themselves—but with Key letting the date slip and saying development is in full swing behind the scenes, it’s probably as close to official as you’re going to get without the Mario team holding a press conference at E3 and chucking red hats into the crowd.

Worth the Wait?

All told, the three-year gaps between entries have become a bit of a pattern (first film 2023, Galaxy in 2026, third one targeting 2029), so it’s not much of a surprise. I do have to laugh, though—2029 does sound like a far-off sci-fi date where we’re supposed to have lunar holidays and robot butlers. Instead, it’s Mario, still trying to rescue princesses, only possibly this time involving more planets and new rainbow-coloured enemies for merchandising.

So, there you have it: Super Mario movie number three is on the horizon. Just... a slightly more distant horizon than you might like. If Nintendo keeps making them at this pace, we'll all be middle-aged before Mario and Peach finally tie the knot—or whatever other plot twist they've got up their sleeve.