Nintendo Direct confirms Captain Marvel star Brie Larson for Super Mario Galaxy movie

In typical Nintendo fashion, a Nintendo Direct for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is here out of the blue. While the fresh showcase doesn’t center on expanded footage or news on the next Mario adventure, there are some exciting cast announcements to dig into. For all of you Marvel Cinematic Universe lovers out there, you’ll be pleased, as Captain Marvel herself is getting in on the fun. Yes, Brie Larson is playing Princess Rosalina.

It may seem like an obvious choice when it comes to padding out the Super Mario Galaxy’s cast, but we reckon Larson is a spot-on pick for the role. Introduced in the titular Nintendo Wii game in 2007, Rosalina (or Rosetta in Japan) continues to pop up in new Mario games consistently. You can find her in Super Mario Party, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mario Golf: Super Rush, and Mario Party Superstars – to name a few. However, Rosalina arguably had the spotlight on her massively for a while, with Super Mario Galaxy serving as her main outing.

While Mario’s big-screen outings contain plenty of nods to the character’s multi-decade history, this could be a shift toward seeing Rosalina featuring more prominently in other Mario projects in the future. Her inclusion in the series is a refreshing one, though. There are plenty of princesses in Mario lore, and while a good portion of them often fall into the ‘damsel in distress’ category, Rosalina curbs that expectation. Backed by her own fascinating backstory and purpose, she can more than handle her own in the face of cosmic threats.

Brie Larson continues to be a massive advocate for the Nintendo Switch. Having featured in several trailers and ad spots for the acclaimed handheld, it isn’t much of a surprise that Nintendo is tapping her shoulder for the role. Her passion for some of the best Switch games, like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, is well-documented. She even loves a bit of Fortnite, which tracks considering she’s a member of The Seven in-game.

Alongside Larson, the Nintendo Direct lists Uncut Gems co-director and Oppenheimer actor Benny Safdie as playing Bowser Jr. I find Safdie’s career extremely interesting to follow right now. Following his decision to direct and write solo, away from his brother Josh, Benny’s recent efforts include projects with Nathan Fielder and Emma Stone (The Curse) and Dwayne Johnson (The Smashing Machine). You can also see him next in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Meanwhile, Josh Safdie is preparing for the release of Marty Supreme, a sports biopic starring Timothee Chalamet.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie arrives in movie theaters on April 3, 2026.