AceShowbiz - The Super Mario Bros. Movie 3 has officially received a release window from one of its stars, confirming that fans will need to wait until 2029 to see the next installment in the blockbuster franchise. The announcement came from Keegan-Michael Key, who voices Toad in the series, during an interview about the digital release of the second film.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie franchise has been a massive success for Nintendo and Universal Pictures. The original film earned $1.36 billion at the worldwide box office, making it one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time. Its sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, was nearly as successful, earning $968 million worldwide. With those impressive numbers, it is clear that Nintendo and Universal are committed to continuing the Super Mario film franchise, and that an entire Smash Bros. franchise universe is being built around it.

Given those grand plans, it should come as no surprise that The Super Mario Bros. Movie 3 would be fast-tracked by Nintendo and Universal, especially considering how the second film left things. And thanks to one of the stars of the Mario movie franchise, we now have a definitive release date window for the threequel.

Keegan-Michael Key has starred in both The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie as Toad, the loyal Mushroom Kingdom citizen who acts as the right-hand man to Princess Peach, voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy. Key sat down with Screen Rant to talk about the digital release of the second film and what will come after. The actor felt the need to apologize to fans in advance, since the wait between the second and third films will be the same stretch of time that they endured between the first and second film.

"We want to get it right. We want to get everything right. We want to get all the details right. And Michael and Aaron, who are our directors, have a real passion for this," Keegan-Michael Key explained. "I think they're as passionate about these projects as the audience is. And so we got to get it right, we got to get it right. So I apologize. But it'll be worth the wait. It'll be worth the wait...'29 is better than sometime, right?"

So, The Super Mario Bros. Movie 3 will apparently be aiming for release in 2029. That would be a three-year gap between the second and third films, just like there was a three-year gap between the first and second films. This timeline suggests that Nintendo and Universal are maintaining a consistent production schedule for the franchise, prioritizing quality over speed.

As for what the third film will be about, there is no confirmation yet from Nintendo or Universal. However, fans certainly have their preferences. The biggest thing on the wishlist is to see Mario and Luigi's evil counterparts, Wario and Waluigi, make their movie debut, which would be a fitting "event" for the threequel. These characters have been fan favorites in the video games for decades, and their introduction could bring a new dynamic to the film series.

There is also the expanding lore about Princesses Peach and Daisy, the latter voiced by Brie Larson, which is a significant change from the games. The second film introduced Daisy as a new character, expanding the world beyond the traditional Mario storyline. It remains to be seen how this will develop in the third film.

We also do not know if Nintendo's live-action Legend of Zelda movie or the Star Fox spinoff project will tie into the third film. These projects are part of Nintendo's broader strategy to build a cinematic universe, and it is possible that they could connect with the Mario franchise in some way.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is now available on digital. Fans can stream the first film on Peacock. The future of Nintendo movies is a hot topic among fans, and discussions are ongoing about what comes next for the franchise.

The confirmation of a 2029 release window gives fans a concrete timeline to look forward to, even if it means a longer wait than some might have hoped. With the directors' passion for the project and the studio's commitment to getting every detail right, the third film promises to be worth the wait. As Keegan-Michael Key said, "It'll be worth the wait."

In the meantime, fans can revisit the first two films and speculate about what the third installment might bring. Whether it introduces new characters like Wario and Waluigi, expands the lore of Princesses Peach and Daisy, or connects to other Nintendo properties, The Super Mario Bros. Movie 3 is shaping up to be another major event in the world of animated cinema.

With the Smash Bros. franchise universe being built around the Mario films, the possibilities are endless. Nintendo and Universal have a clear vision for the future, and fans are eager to see how it all comes together. For now, the wait continues, but the promise of a 2029 release gives everyone something to look forward to.

Discuss the future of Nintendo movies with us on the ComicBook Forum and stay tuned for more updates on The Super Mario Bros. Movie 3 and other upcoming Nintendo film projects.