Super Mario Movie 3 Status Gets Exciting New Update From Chris Pratt

The Super Mario Movie 3 is preparing to soar off on its next adventure.

Kicking off with 2023's box office smash hit The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which earned over $1.36 billion worldwide, Universal and Nintendo have a massive movie franchise on their hands that's just getting started. The studio followed up the hit video game adaptation with its first sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, in April 2026, with the second installment having amassed over $1 billion at the box office thus far. Given The Super Mario Galaxy Movie's ending and post-credits teasers, a third movie appeared all but guaranteed, though Universal has yet to announce an official greenlight.

Still, plans for another installment have already been discussed by the franchise's returning cast following the sequel's commercial success, with Toad actor Keegan-Michael Key reaffirming to ScreenRant that Super Mario Movie 3 will likely release in 2029. In light of these updates, ScreenRant's Liam Crowley spoke to Chris Pratt on the red carpet of The Terminal List season 2's premiere about the status of the third film. Pratt revealed they're not back in the recording booth quite yet and are currently still working out the story, but he's ready for production on Super Mario Movie 3 whenever they call him:

Chris Pratt: "No, not yet, but I'm so grateful. Those guys are amazing, and the minute they want to have me back to do it, I'd be down to do it. I think they're just probably figuring out what that story looks like right now."

While the overall plot points are still being ironed out, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie's post-credits scenes opened the doors for two major franchise characters to have their stories expanded on and finally be introduced in the film series. In addition to showing Glen Powell's Fox McCloud returning to his home world after flying Bowser and Bowser Jr. to prison, the end credits briefly introduce Princess Daisy as she prevents another robbery by Ukiki at the Gateway Galaxy.

Daisy's post-credits debut follows the strategy used by the original Super Mario Bros. Movie's credits scene to introduce Yoshi, who then played a key role in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie as a new ally to Mario and Luigi and one-sided nemesis to Toad. It's now expected that Daisy will play a pivotal part in the Super Mario Movie 3 story, with the character having often served as a love interest for Luigi in the Nintendo video game franchise.

Though Universal still hasn't officially confirmed a third movie, an announcement isn't expected until more story outlines, negotiations, and personnel are in place. It took nearly a year after The Super Mario Bros. Movie's release in April 2023 for the sequel to be announced by Illumination in March 2024. As such, if Super Mario Movie 3 follows a similar timeline, a confirmation by Illumination may not arrive until Mario Day in March 2027.

After The Super Mario Galaxy Movie's cast expanded the ensemble with plenty more iconic franchise characters and A-list talent voicing them, it's unclear who all will be back, and to what extent, for the third film. It's expected that Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, and Anya Taylor-Joy would reprise their respective roles as Mario, Luigi, and Peach, with Keegan Michael-Key and Jack Black also eager to return as Toad and Bowser.

Newcomers in the sequel included Brie Larson as Rosalina, Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr., Donald Glover as Yoshi, and Glen Powell as Fox McCloud, each of whom could reasonably return in another entry. Meanwhile, as the anticipation for the Super Mario Movie 3's confirmation and production grows, so does the anticipation for the reveal of who will join the franchise to voice Princess Daisy.