The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2: What's the Latest Update?

Jack Black's Pitch for the Sequel

Despite the movie's blockbuster success, Jack Black has a disappointing update on The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2. Black starred in the 2023 adaptation of the Nintendo video game franchise as Bowser, the titular plumber's iconic archenemy who is out on a quest to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom and marry Princess Peach. Though scoring mixed reviews from critics, The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a box office smash, currently sitting as the second-highest-grossing movie of 2023 behind Barbie with over $1.36 billion grossed worldwide.

Bowser (Jack Black) about to claim the star standing menacingly in The Super Mario Bros. Movie

During a recent interview with Variety, Black was asked for an update on The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2. The star revealed that he's encountered 'radio silence' in the near-year since the first movie came out, but remains hopeful to get to return for the animated sequel and even pitching his own idea for what the subtitle should be for the next movie. See what Black said below:

Mario screaming while on a Mario Kart in Super Mario Bros Movie

It has been radio silence. The only chatter has been coming from me, and I don’t even know if I’m allowed to chatter. I’ve been chomping at the bit to get back to business. [I'm pitching the title] 'Bowser's Revenge'. I think it should be a full musical, like what Todd Phillips is supposedly doing with Joker 2.

Mario wearing cat costume in The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Why Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 Hasn't Been Announced Yet

Well before the movie was released, talks had swirled of a potential Super Mario Bros. Movie 2, with Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa confirming the publisher's interest in producing a sequel should the first movie prove successful. Rumors also swirled of a spinoff centered on Seth Rogen's Donkey Kong having already been in development, though no official reports have confirmed this to be true. Following the movie's box office success, Nintendo confirmed that they were planning to develop more adaptations of their properties, though didn't directly confirm the Super Mario sequel.

Mario being held down by Donkey Kong in a stadium showdown in The Super Mario Bros. 

While it was a box office hit, there are a number of reasons why the sequel has yet to be confirmed by Nintendo, Universal or Illumination. Chris Pratt previously indicated in mid 2023 that there would be news on the follow-up in the near future, but that the then-ongoing Writer's Guild of America strikes had put development on hold. Additionally, with the first movie garnering mixed reviews, falling just shy of a Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes with a 59% score from critics, the publisher is likely wanting to take some extra time to determine what worked and what didn't in the original and how they can improve for the sequel.

Mario flying in the air after an explosion in The Super Mario Bros Movie

The other likely reason why The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 has yet to be announced by Nintendo is their current focus on the recently announced Legend of Zelda movie adaptation. Given part of the reason the 2023 movie took a long time to make was Nintendo's reluctance to allow any adaptations of their properties, it seems likely that they would want to ensure they're devoting proper oversight to the Link-focused movie to ensure it lives up to their expectations before also moving forward with the animated sequel. However, with the cast clearly eager to continue the franchise, it seems likely 2024 will bring the announcement of The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2's development.