Things That Could Ruin The Super Mario Galaxy Movie But Illumination Can Avoid

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Growing up, *Super Mario* was HUGE in the 80s and 90s, and that’s why they made the live-action *Super Mario Bros.* movie back in ’93. Honestly, it’s not remembered as a great video game movie – even though there are still people who love it! That bad experience kept Nintendo from letting anyone make Mario movies for a long, long time. It wasn’t until Illumination came along and released *The Super Mario Bros. Movie* in 2023 that Nintendo decided to try movies again.

I was really happy with how well the first Super Mario movie did in theaters, and honestly, the reviews were a lot better than the live-action one! But a lot of us fans still felt like it could have been even *better*. So, with the announcement of *The Super Mario Galaxy Movie*, I’m really hoping Illumination takes what they learned and makes the sequel even more amazing!

There will be spoilers for The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Don’t Make Bowser And Mario Team Up

It’s Not Time Yet

It’s exciting that the next Mario film will be inspired by *Super Mario Galaxy*, a later installment in the game series. Both Illumination and Nintendo considered many different ideas for a movie set in the Mushroom Kingdom over the years. Initially, there was talk of the movie being based on *Super Mario World*, which would have fit well with the post-credits scene of *The Super Mario Bros. Movie* that featured a Yoshi egg.

Bowser is usually Mario’s enemy, but they’ve worked together before, like in the game *Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars*. However, it’s too soon for a team-up in the second movie. The *Sonic* movies didn’t have Sonic and Dr. Robotnik become allies until the third film. So, even though Illumination and Nintendo might have rushed things by taking the story to space, they should avoid rushing a friendship between Bowser and Mario.

Don’t Give Yoshi A Normal Voice

He Should Be Strained Like The Toads

The majority of the original cast is back for the sequel, including Chris Pratt as Mario and Jack Black as Bowser. Most of the actors delivered their lines naturally, without altering their voices or adding overly dramatic performances. The main exception was Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, who didn’t quite mimic the character’s voice from the games and instead created a unique vocal performance for the role.

It would be great if the actor playing Yoshi approached the role like Key did, giving the character a unique and memorable voice. Getting the voice right can really please fans, but a different approach could also spark debate. The original voice cast wasn’t bad, it just didn’t quite resonate with longtime fans. Of course, all of this depends on whether Yoshi even appears in the movie, which hasn’t been confirmed yet.

Hold Back On The Licensed Tracks

Give Mario’s Original Music A Spin

The *Mario* games are known for their incredible music, and while the recent movie featured remixes of some classic tracks, it also included a lot of popular songs from other artists. Many fans felt this didn’t quite fit the *Mario* world. For example, the movie used songs like AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” and Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero.” While these songs didn’t ruin the film, they felt out of place.

Thankfully, the characters from *Super Mario Galaxy* didn’t break into song – that would have been odd, though not entirely out of place for some other Illumination films. The game featured incredible orchestral music, and fans would really appreciate hearing those beloved tracks in the movie.

Peaches Should Be Done

Let Someone Else Have A Ballad

Jack Black’s performance of “Peaches” as Bowser in *The Super Mario Bros. Movie* quickly became the most talked-about part of the film. The song’s popularity led to live performances and a lot of promotion, but even a catchy tune can get old if played too much.

Let’s hope *The Super Mario Galaxy Movie* doesn’t overdo references to past games. A little nod to older elements is okay, but fresh humor is also important. It’s more exciting when creators take risks and try new things instead of just repeating what’s already proven successful. Fans appreciated that *The Super Mario Bros. Movie* wasn’t afraid to experiment with established storylines, even if not every attempt landed perfectly. Ultimately, constantly looking back won’t help animation – or any creative field – progress.

Rosalina’s Characterization

Keep Her A Calm Presence

The way *The Super Mario Bros. Movie* ended with a Yoshi egg hatching strongly suggests Yoshi will appear in the next film, likely *The Super Mario Galaxy Movie*. Plus, since the first movie included Lumas, adapting *Super Mario Galaxy* feels like a natural progression. This also means we’ll probably see Rosalina, and fans will be disappointed if she’s left out. It’s not just about *including* Rosalina, though – the filmmakers will need to accurately capture her character to satisfy viewers.

The recent *Super Mario Bros. Movie* gave Princess Peach a more independent and rebellious personality, which was a good change, even though she still ended up needing to be rescued. However, giving both Peach and Rosalina rebellious traits doesn’t quite work. Rosalina, in *Super Mario Galaxy*, is meant to be more of an enigmatic and wise figure, almost otherworldly. To make her adaptation successful, Rosalina needs to maintain that sense of playful wisdom and mystery.

Overstuffing The Movie With Characters

A Problem With Sequels

It’s common for movie sequels to add new characters, particularly when they’re based on existing stories. This can work well if done carefully, as seen in many early Marvel Cinematic Universe films, but it can also feel forced, like in some of the later MCU installments. With *The Super Mario Galaxy Movie* likely to introduce even more faces, it’s worth remembering that the first *Super Mario* film already included a large cast, especially with the addition of the Kong family.

While fans are eager to see Wario and Waluigi, adding them might overcrowd the villain roster. The movie already showed baby versions of Mario and Luigi in a flashback, and it would be best if they aren’t brought back as separate characters using a time travel plot. If the creators can avoid adding too many elements, it will improve the story.

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2025-09-16 17:10