A minor location in the Super Mario franchise may turn out to be the secret base of operations of Bowser – and perhaps his son – in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Bowser was shown to be headquartered in the kingdom known as the Dark Lands, a detail that’s rooted in the video game franchise the movie is based on.
But that doesn’t appear to be the ultimate destination of the Koopa King when he’s inevitably rescued by Bowser Jr. and possibly Bowser’s second-in-command, Kamek. As made clear by the title itself, much of the action will take place on the cosmic side of the Super Mario Universe, thus indicating that this is where Bowser will head next.
Exactly why Bowser will enter outerspace is unclear, but one possibility is that the Dark Lands aren’t the only place he can call home.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie May Feature Neo Bowser City
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s new “Level Up” trailer showcases Bowser Jr. in what appears to be a variation of his father’s “Fury” form from Bowser’s Fury. The background appears to be of an urban area that includes a Bowser statue. This, and the dark accents of the city, point to this setting being the movie’s very own take on Neo Bowser City, which first appeared in 2011’s Mario Kart 7.
Urban racing tracks are quite common in the Super Mario franchise, as are courses that are built around a certain character. That’s really all there is to Neo Bowser City in Mario’s world, given that it doesn’t fit into any particular narrative. But The Super Mario Galaxy Movie may be taking a different direction by giving it a proper place in its lore.
With Neo Bowser City apparently being a locale in the film, it could be that it will operate as a headquarters for Bowser and Bowser Jr. A planet with a Bowser aesthetic has been shown as well, so the city could be the capital of a planet he has somehow occupied at some point in the timeline of the Super Mario films, maybe before he took over the Dark Lands.
Regardless of where it fits into the plot, including Neo Bowser City makes a lot of sense for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, given that it would follow the spirit of the first movie’s Mario Kart influence. Mario Kart heavily inspired the finale, with Mario and his friends riding vehicles down Rainbow Road ahead of the final bout with Bowser.
After that, it’s not hard to imagine The Super Mario Galaxy Movie drawing upon Mario Kart in its own way to deliver an epic final battle between the heroes and Bowser’s army.
- Release Date
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April 1, 2026
- Director
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Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic
- Writers
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Matthew Fogel