It isn’t exactly surprising that one of the defining icons of video games would create some of the biggest blockbusters in video game adaptation history, but both Super Mario movies have massively exceeded expectations in worldwide recognition and success. Especially after the release of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and its now $888+ worldwide gross, the series is proving to have continued acclaim as one of the most successful animated movie franchises of all time.

However, even after two complete feature films were filled to the brim with a wide array of memorable characters and easter eggs, there are still a selection of fan-favorite Mario characters that haven’t had their big-screen debut yet. Fans are waiting with bated breath for these characters to hopefully get their opportunity to shine in an upcoming sequel, especially after many even more obscure characters have had their time in the spotlight.

6

Professor E. Gadd

While the character is most famously recognized for his role in the Luigi-centric spinoff franchise, Luigi’s Mansion, Professor E. Gadd has become a mainstay of the Mario series, who, even when not on-screen, has had a massive influence on various aspects of the entire franchise. As a crazed old man inventor, E. Gadd is most famously known for the various inventions that he has made throughout the series, most notably Luigi’s Poltergust and Bowser Jr.’s magic brush. The fact that Bowser Jr. uses this brush in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie means that E. Gadd’s inventions are already in the movies, paving the way for his potential to appear in the films himself.

Even outside the brush, E. Gadd’s signature logo even appears in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in an easter egg on a mug used by Kamek, meaning it’s only a matter of time before he appears in either a sequel or a Luigi’s Mansion spinoff. One can easily imagine Mario and his friends requesting the help of E. Gadd for a wild invention that they’d need to defeat a villain, as the character has done this various times in games like Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. Plus, this archetype of a manic, elderly character has already seen success in the movies through the likes of Cranky Kong, so the precedent is already there for this style of character to find success in the film.

5

Petey Piranha

Many of the biggest and most prominent villains in the Mario series have made appearances in both of the Mario movies, whether it be King Bob-omb and King Boo appearing in the first film or Wart and Mouser appearing in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. However, one major villain that still somehow hasn’t made an appearance in the films is Petey Piranha, the giant mutated Piranha Plant who has been a frequent boss of the series since his debut in Super Mario Sunshine. As one of the most common enemies, Piranha Plants are all over both Mario movies, so it isn’t a big stretch for the biggest, most dangerous Piranha Plant of all to make a big-screen debut.

Petey has managed to leave such an impact as a Mario villain that, even though he appeared after the initial debut of characters like King Bob-omb and Wart, he quickly cemented himself as a mainstay to the point of even being playable in many spin-offs long before his villainous companions. From being a driver in Mario Kart: Double Dash to being in various Tennis and Baseball games, Petey Piranha has cemented himself as an icon among the forces of Bowser’s Army. It’s at a point where it isn’t a matter of if the character will appear in a feature film, but a question of when the character will make the jump to the silver screen.

4

Waluigi

Image via Nintendo

The tall, lanky villain who has been a signature rival of Luigi ever since his debut, Waluigi has grown to be a massive fan-favorite of the franchise despite technically never appearing in a mainline game in the Super Mario series. However, Waluigi has been a consistent mainstay of the spinoff games, being playable in just about every other sport, party, and kart game since his debut. The character is also often tied to his main partner in crime (one who will, of course, be mentioned later on in this list), but even by his lonesome, has a case for making an appearance sometime soon.

It’s clear that Luigi is becoming all the more important and prominent in the Mario movies, from his increased prevalence and importance in the plot of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie to the end-credits tease being his major love interest, Princess Daisy. This means that it’s an absolutely perfect time for one of Luigi’s direct rivals to make a big-screen debut, creating more opportunities for Luigi to shine as a hero without having to share the screen time with either Mario or Yoshi. Waluigi appearing in these movies has also had fans rife with creativity as to who could portray this iconic, absurd character, with fans wanting the likes of Steve Buscemi or Willem Dafoe to play the character.

3

The Koopalings

With Bowser and Bowser Jr. being stuck in jail at the end of The Mario Galaxy Movie, it makes sense to have another member of the Koopa Army breaking the duo out in a similar vein to how Bowser Jr. tried to free his father from Peach’s castle. In this specific case, the Koopalings are the perfect choice, with the seven distinct turtle villains being one of the clearest choices for a villain in the eventual third movie. It’s a case of lining up perfectly with Mario Bros. history, as the Koopalings initially made their debut in Super Mario Bros. 3, continuing off of how the first sequel utilized characters from Super Mario Bros. 2 in Wart, Mouser, Birdo, and the Ninji.

However, unlike many of the Super Mario Bros. 2 villains that have been largely unseen since their debut, the Koopalings made a major return in New Super Mario Bros. Wii and have since become a recurring mainstay of the series. On top of appearing in several of the New Super Mario Bros. games, they have since made appearances in Paper Mario: Color Splash, Mario Kart 8, and, most notably, being playable alternate costumes for Bowser Jr. in the Super Smash Bros. franchise. The concept of adding seven new distinct characters also provides a lot of fun potential for casting, whether it be a group of famous actors or distinct voice acting talent.

2

Toadette

Image via Nintendo

Whether it be the main Toad played by Keegan-Michael Key or the hundreds of other Toads that hang out in the Mushroom Kingdom, the friendly mushroom men have been an overwhelming presence in both movies, especially the first one. However, the absence of Toad’s female companion, Toadette, is still extremely confusing, considering just how much the duo has been paired up together since her introduction in Mario Kart: Double Dash. However, unlike Waluigi, who also made his debut in a spinoff game, Toadette has actually made main-series appearances, most notably in Super Mario Odyssey and even being playable in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe.

What’s even more baffling about Toadette’s lack of inclusion is that the character actually makes an indirect appearance in the film, being on a poster in the background when Mario first enters the Mushroom Kingdom. It’s easy to envision the inclusion of Toadette as a dynamic way to move the Toad character forward, giving him a real partner in crime when just about everyone else in the main cast is getting a prominent other half. It would also allow for more creativity in the background of the Mushroom Kingdom, allowing it to be populated with various Toadettes on top of Toads. Whenever the character does make her big-screen appearance, they will have to have a prominent voice actor who has great chemistry with Keegan-Michael Key, with fans wanting the likes of Amy Poehler or Kelly Marie Tran to play the character.

1

Wario

Image via Nintendo

While it certainly makes sense as to why the character hasn’t made a big-screen appearance yet, it’s simultaneously undeniable that the biggest and most recognizable Mario character who hasn’t appeared in the movies yet is Wario, the greedy, treasure-loving anti-hero counterpart to Mario. While the character made his first appearance as a main series villain in Super Mario Land 2: – 6 Golden Coins, they have since become a fan-favorite recurring character in nearly all the spin-offs. The character even has multiple spin-off series with him as the protagonist in Wario Land and WarioWare. By this point in the movie franchise, when even prominent Nintendo characters that aren’t in the Mario franchise are making appearances, it feels as though Wario’s big-screen appearance should be the next big priority.

It isn’t just the character’s overwhelming icon status that makes them due for a big-screen appearance, but the overwhelming potential that the character has for a fun, villainous force. Wario’s greedy antics and mischief, often alongside Waluigi, iconically make him a perfect fit for a character in an Illumination film, either as a major villain or as a side villain who still moves the plot forward like Wart or Foreman Spike. It also helps that just about everyone, even the film’s cast themselves, is in consistent agreement with who would be the perfect fit to voice Wario in the movies, as having Danny DeVito would be a one-of-a-kind, perfect casting opportunity. If Wario somehow doesn’t appear in the next Mario movie, there will certainly be outcry from fans.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Release Date

April 1, 2026

Runtime

98 Minutes

Director

Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Pierre Leduc, Fabien Polack

Writers

Matthew Fogel