Nintendo and Illumination may already be looking beyond The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. According to an updated Universal release schedule on its Spanish website, an “Untitled Illumination/Nintendo Event Film” is listed for April 12, 2028. The listing was spotted by VGC, and it suggests the partnership is already preparing its next animated movie after the upcoming Mario sequel.
Universal has not confirmed what the movie is, so it is too early to say whether this is another Mario film or the start of a different Nintendo series on the big screen. Still, the timing makes sense. The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a huge success, and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is expected to continue that momentum. With that kind of box office power, it would be surprising if Nintendo and Illumination did not already have another project in motion.
The April 2028 date could point to a third Mario movie, but Nintendo has enough characters for a wider movie universe
The easiest guess is that the 2028 film will be the third Mario movie. If The Super Mario Galaxy Movie performs well, Nintendo and Illumination may want to finish a Mario trilogy before moving deeper into spin-offs. Mario is the safest brand in Nintendo’s movie plans, and it gives the studios plenty of characters, worlds, and game ideas to use.
But there are other possibilities. Donkey Kong has been talked about as a possible spin-off candidate since the first Mario movie. Star Fox has also been rumored, especially after the character’s appearance in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, according to the reference article. Metroid has also been part of movie-rights rumors, though it would likely need a very different tone from Illumination’s bright comedy style.
| Possible 2028 movie | Why it could happen |
|---|---|
| Third Mario movie | Safest choice after two successful Mario films |
| Donkey Kong spin-off | Already connected to Mario’s movie world |
| Star Fox movie | Could expand Nintendo into sci-fi adventure |
| Metroid movie | Stronger action focus, but harder to match with Illumination’s style |
Nintendo also has another major movie test coming before 2028. The live-action Legend of Zelda movie is scheduled for May 7, 2027. That film is separate from Illumination’s animated Mario work, but its performance could still affect how aggressively Nintendo expands its film business. If Zelda becomes a major hit, Nintendo may feel even more confident about turning more of its games into movies.
For now, the 2028 listing mainly tells us that Nintendo and Illumination are not slowing down. The exact title is still unknown, and plans can always change before release. But the partnership has already proved that Nintendo characters can work at the box office when handled carefully.
The big question is whether Nintendo wants to build slowly around Mario or move faster into a wider “Nintendo Cinematic Universe.” A third Mario movie would be the safer route. A spin-off would be the more exciting one. Either way, April 2028 now looks like the next major date to watch for Nintendo’s animated movie plans.
Discussion (0)
Be the first to comment.