So Nintendo and Illumination finally dropped the Super Mario Galaxy Movie trailer. After months of waiting, we've got our first real look at what's coming next in this animated franchise. But here's the thing – trailers can be deceiving, especially when studios are trying to recapture lightning in a bottle.
Let me break down what's actually working and what's got me worried about this sequel.
The Good: Fresh Faces and Smart Story Choices
Bowser Jr. Takes Center Stage
Finally! We're getting Bowser Jr. as the main antagonist, and honestly, this feels like the right move. The original movie's biggest weakness was how quickly they wrapped up Bowser's threat. Now we've got tiny, defeated Bowser as a prisoner while his son steps up to save dear old dad.
Benny Safdie voicing the little guy is an interesting choice too. The Uncut Gems co-director knows how to bring intensity to a role. His villain monologue in the trailer already sounds more menacing than I expected from a kid character.
Rosalina's Cosmic Presence
Brie Larson as Rosalina? I'm cautiously optimistic here. The bedtime story scene with the Lumas feels authentic to the character's nurturing role from the games. Plus, having Captain Marvel voice a cosmic guardian makes perfect sense on paper.
The visual design stays true to Rosalina's ethereal appearance from Super Mario Galaxy. That's something Illumination actually nailed in the first film – respecting the source material's look.
The Concerning: Missing Pieces and Franchise Fatigue
Where the Hell is Yoshi?
This bugs me more than it should. We got that post-credits tease in the first movie. There was even a cookie dough box leak showing Yoshi's design this week. Yet zero appearance in this trailer?
Either they're saving the big reveal for later, or Yoshi got pushed to a smaller role than fans expected. Neither option feels great right now.
The Speaking Character Dilemma
Here's where my skepticism kicks in hard. Chris Pratt's Mario already talks way too much compared to the games' "wahoo" and "let's-a go" approach. Now we're probably getting a fully-voiced Yoshi too?
Look, I get it. Movies need dialogue. But part of these characters' charm comes from their simple, iconic catchphrases. Every time they add more talking, we drift further from what makes Mario characters special.
Industry Red Flags Worth Watching
The Sequel Rush Problem
The first Mario movie made bank – over $1.3 billion worldwide. That's insane money. But rushing into a sequel while the iron's hot doesn't always work out. Just ask any studio that tried milking their animated hit too quickly.
April 3rd release date means they've got less than two years between films. That's tight for animation, even with Illumination's efficient pipeline.
Voice Casting Concerns
Don't get me wrong – Jack Black absolutely killed it as Bowser in the original. Hearing his voice pitched up for tiny Bowser is actually pretty funny. But are we just going to keep stacking celebrity voices without considering if they fit the characters?
The Mario franchise works because it's simple and universal. Too many A-list voices can overshadow that.
What This Means for Nintendo's Movie Future
Nintendo's clearly betting big on their cinematic universe. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie feels like a test case for how far they can expand beyond the core Mario formula.
If this works, expect more space-themed adventures. If it doesn't? Well, we might see them retreat back to Mushroom Kingdom basics pretty quickly.
The Illumination Factor
Here's my biggest question mark. Illumination knows how to make money, but their track record on storytelling is... mixed. The first Mario movie succeeded despite some pretty basic plotting. Can they level up for the sequel, or are we getting more of the same crowd-pleasing but forgettable content?
The cosmic setting of Galaxy gives them more creative freedom. That could be amazing or absolutely terrible, depending on execution.
Final Verdict: Cautious Optimism with Major Asterisks
This trailer hits some right notes. Bowser Jr. looks promising as a villain, Rosalina seems faithful to her game counterpart, and the visual spectacle is undeniably impressive.
But I'm not ready to declare this a guaranteed hit yet. Too many questions remain about pacing, character development, and whether they've learned from the first film's weaker moments.
The real test? Whether casual moviegoers care about Mario going to space, or if this feels too much like a cash grab riding on the original's success. We'll find out April 3rd if lightning can strike twice in the Mushroom Kingdom.
