Chris Pratt's New Super Mario Bros Movie 2 Tease Is The Best News Yet For 25-Year-Old Video Game Adaptation

Summary Chris Pratt teases a potential Nintendo Cinematic Universe with the Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel.

The success of the first film leads to the possibility of a Super Smash Bros. adaptation.

A Super Smash Bros. adaptation could lead to a Legend of Zelda spinoff.

Following the first film's success, The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 is shooting for the stars, according to star Chris Pratt, and its reported ambition is great news for the franchise. The 2023 animated adventure comedy film, directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic and written by Matthew Fogel, adapted characters from Nintendo's Mario video game franchise (like Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Donkey Kong, etc.) and told Mario's origin story. However, The Super Mario Bros. Movie also left the door wide open for various spinoffs and sequels, meaning that it could be the start of a wildly popular cinematic universe.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 is set to premiere on April 3, 2026.

Although not much is known about the sequel other than The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2's release date, teases from the first film and comments from cast members can inform what's to come in the upcoming story. Of course, most of the voice cast of The Super Mario Bros. Movie is expected to return, like Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi, and Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach. As for the story, Super Mario Bros. Movie's post-credits scenes indicate that the sequel will introduce Yoshi, but Pratt's comments suggest the second film has many more surprises in store.

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Chris Pratt's "Nintendo Cinematic Universe" Tease For Super Mario Bros 2 Makes A Super Smash Bros Adaptation More Likely

The "Nintendo Cinematic Universe" Could Begin With Super Smash Bros

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During an interview with Screen Rant, The Super Mario Bros. Movie star Chris Pratt teased plans for the sequel. When asked about what's to come in the second film, the Mario voice actor said:

"Oh, man! There's so much to explore. There are decades worth of [games] to explore, not only with Mario and Peach and Donkey Kong and Luigi and Bowser and Yoshi; that was teased at the end. But it just gets me so excited. I was such a Nintendo head growing up, so just thinking about how everything from Legend of Zelda to the entire Nintendo Cinematic Universe could be created and what that could look like for all of these characters that I love? I mean, there's really no limit. We could talk about it for hours."

Given the first movie's success (The Super Mario Bros. Movie grossed $1.36 billion at the box office), Illumination and Nintendo's decision to go forward with a sequel was a no-brainer. However, the billion-dollar film also informed the studios that they could make a lot of money by taking what The Super Mario Bros. Movie established and turn it into a Nintendo Cinematic Universe, similar to what Iron Man did for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So, Pratt's quote about a Nintendo Cinematic Universe isn't surprising, but it confirms the probability of a Super Smash Bros. adaptation.

If a Super Smash Bros. film adaptation included characters such as Link and Princess Zelda, Illumination and Nintendo could easily go forward with a Legend of Zelda spinoff since it would be the most likely adaptation next within this cinematic universe.

The best and easiest way to kickstart the Nintendo Cinematic Universe in The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 is for the sequel to adapt Super Smash Bros. The upcoming second film could introduce several Super Smash Bros. characters, like Yoshi, Kirby, and so much more. Adapting the crossover platform fighting game series for the big screen as soon as possible allows the producers to develop several spinoffs with the characters they introduce, making it easier to officially establish the Nintendo Cinematic Universe.

Related Casting Toadette For Super Mario Bros Movie 2: 8 Actors Who'd Be Perfect The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 might consider Millie Bobby Brown, Jenna Ortega, or Bella Ramsey to voice Toadette if they decide to include her.

Super Mario Bros 2 Adapting Super Smash Bros Can Perfectly Set Up A New Spinoff Movie

One of the Nintendo IPs Chris Pratt mentioned when asked about the sequel was The Legend of Zelda. If a Super Smash Bros. film adaptation included characters such as Link and Princess Zelda, Illumination and Nintendo could easily go forward with a Legend of Zelda spinoff since it would be the most likely adaptation next within this cinematic universe. Even a brief Super Smash Bros. sequence in The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 could set up a Legend of Zelda film and officially launch the Nintendo Cinematic Universe.