Fans have been digging into the poster and teaser trailer for the upcomingSuper Mario Bros.movie, which show a fascinating new take on the old Mushroom Kingdom rendered in higher fidelity than ever. This team-up between Nintendo and Illumination seeks to retell the story of Mario’s first battle with Bowser. There are a lot of fine details about theSuper Mario Bros.moviethat fans don’t know yet, least of all being how much of an accent Mario’s voice actor Chris Pratt uses, but hopes are still high.
The teaser consisted of three distinct sections of the movie, abridged to various degrees. The first was likely its opening scene, showing Bowser stealing what appears to bea Power Star from a penguin kingdom. The second showed Mario entering the Mushroom Kingdom for the first time and meeting Toad. The third scene is a brief stinger of Luigi running away from a horde of Dry Bones, and many fans have noted that this is a perfect use for the second Mario brother. In fact, many are hoping that if theMariomovie launches a Nintendo cinematic universe, aLuigi’s Mansionmovie could come in the near future.
RELATED:10 Surprising Things Luigi’s Mansion Taught Us About Mario Canon
Luigi Deserves a Leading Role on the Big Screen
For the first few years of their existence, Luigi stood in Mario’s shadow. It took some time, but Luigi has become fully realized and independent of his famous brother. Mario is a very basic character, often by necessity givenMariogames require a confident and competent heroto engage with their mechanics, with Mario remaining a popular industry icon based on his series’ high quality. Still, he’s often not allowed to speak for himself or show prolonged emotions beyond enthusiasm, which is where Luigi comes in.
Luigi’s MansionandMario & Luigi: Superstar Sagacharacterized Luigi as a lovable coward, and this has stuck for over 20 years. In sharp contrast with Mario, Luigi is a perpetual underdog, unable to hide his fear and reluctance. He ultimately rises to any challenge, and his victories in spite of himself have endeared Luigi to many fans. While a lot of people like Mario, stronger feelings tend to be reserved for the extended cast, and Luigi stands above almost everyone. Many people want to seemore fromLuigi’s MansionandMario & Luigito witness Luigi’s antics, and the upcoming movie seems aware of this.
A Luigi’s Mansion Adaptation Feels like the Logical Next Step
The scene included in the film’s trailer seems like a deliberate homage to Luigi’s self-titled series. This isn’t the first timeLuigi’s Mansionhas been referenced, with theSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatetrailer for Simon and Richter Belmontalso placing Luigi in a horror setting. He has picked up an association with family-friendly horror, and if theSuper Mario Bros.movie already leans into this, so much more can be done in a film starring Luigi alone.
Chances are, Mario is not going to be the most popular character in his own movie. A Charlie Day-voiced Luigi following his canon personality could easily be a stand-out, and the layup for another film starring him in a different part of theMariouniverse is too perfect. It wouldn’t need to recreateLuigi’s Mansion, but following the formula of finding a haunted building and meeting up with E. Gadd would be more than enough. It would be a huge departure from theSuper Mario Bros.film and theMariofranchise in general, but that’sjust whatLuigi’s Mansiondid. Variety could keep Nintendo’s films fresh, so whether it’s treated as a spin-off or another blockbuster film, aLuigi’s Mansionmovie should be on the table.
The Super Mario Bros. Moviewill hit theaters on August 07, 2025.
