New Pre-Super Bowl 'Super Mario Galaxy Movie' Footage Teases Classic ’00s Mario Character, Voiced by Beloved Indie Star
A new teaser for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was expected to drop during a commercial break on Super Bowl Sunday, but Nintendo and Illumination have gifted fans with a brand-new look at the upcoming film a few days early.
Last month, a trailer for the animated film, which releases in theaters on April 1, unveiled Mouser – a nostalgic Super Mario Bros. boss who hasn't made a formal appearance in the franchise since the 1990s.
Now, a brand-new clip shows another character long-time players will recognise – this time, perhaps, for the generation after those who first got to know the Mario Bros. in the '80s and '90s.
Bowser Jr. Has Made His First Appearance, With an Unusual Choice for Voice Actor
The new teaser for ‘THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE’ has been released.
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) February 6, 2026
In theaters on April 1. pic.twitter.com/HwwHJmWWq7
In the new footage, Bowser Jr. makes his debut, wielding a spear and declaring, "The great battle of my life draws near!"
Bowser Jr., the son of ultimate boss Bowser, made his debut in the Mario franchise back in 2002, in the Nintendo GameCube game Super Mario Sunshine. The Prince of Koopas has appeared alongside his antagonist father in the New Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Galaxy games, as well as across the Mario Kart franchise.
The character was previously confirmed to be voiced by indie filmmaker and director Benny Safdie. Benny, along with brother Josh Safdie, directed the films Uncut Gems (2019), led by Adam Sandler, and Good Time (2017), starring Robert Pattinson.
More recently, Josh has gone on some major solo endeavours. He directed the 2023 series The Curse, starring Emma Stone and Nathan Fielder, as well as The Smashing Machine, the sports biopic with Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. He's also been in some acting roles as of late in popular films, including Happy Gilmore 2 (2025),Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.(2023), and the Best Picture-winning epic, Oppenheimer (2023).