An easy-to-miss Easter egg in The Super Mario Bros. Movie teases Bowser’s team of villains, setting up potential roles for them in a sequel. There’s no official word of an official announcement for The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2, but the record-breaking success of Illumination’s animated Mario adaptation makes a follow-up feel inevitable. When it does happen, it’s all but guaranteed that new villains will be brought into the fold.
With Bowser beaten, it’s worth wondering how the franchise will move forward. As rich as Mario’s rogues’ gallery is, options are admittedly limited, given that most of his enemies are minions and the majority of his games end with Bowser as the final boss. However, the franchise does boast at least a few noteworthy candidates who could menace Mario and Luigi other than the King of the Koopas, whether it be in Bowser’s place or at his side.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie Confirms The Existence Of The Koopalings
Engraved on the piano that Bowser’s uses to play his now-famous “Peaches” song in The Super Mario Bros. Movie are the words, “Ludwig von Koopa” along with what looks to be a picture of the character. This is a tease to the villain of the same name, who acts as a member of the Koopalings in the classic Super Mario Bros. games. The Koopalings make up a group of villains that Mario typically has to deal with before fighting Bowser himself. Each one, including Ludwig, usually has to be beaten in a boss fight. As the leader of the group, Ludwig is often the last of the Koopalings Mario has to defeat and arguably the hardest one to take down.
The name on the piano creates the clear implication that Ludwig von Koopa, who was obviously named after Ludwig von Beethoven, exists in the world of the movie. As for why his name is on it, it’s quite likely that the piano belongs to Ludwig or was gifted to Bowser by him at some point. Either possibility makes sense, given Ludwig’s history. Through his name, hairstyle, and musical references, the Super Mario franchise has always characterized Ludwig as a classical musician.
The Koopalings Could Be Bowser’s Replacements In The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2
It’s not surprising that Illumination has already signaled that the Koopalings are out there somewhere. After all, it’s characters like Ludwig that the franchise may need to lean on in The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2. The Koopalings could work as replacements for Bowser if the sequel elects to let someone else hold the main villain role. Considering that Mario and Luigi spend much of their time fighting across worlds occupied by the Koopalings before they can even get to Bowser, it’s not hard to imagine the seven characters stepping into Bowser’s shoes successfully.
Having a team of villains is one way The Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel can try to offer something different from its predecessor. None of the Koopalings are powerful enough to rival Bowser, but working together as a group could allow the Koopalings to pose a significant threat to Mario, Luigi, Peach, Donkey Kong, and the others. Their arsenal of weapons proves they have the capability to challenge Mario and could in turn yield some exciting action sequences. And as evidenced by Ludwig’s musical tastes, they each have unique personalities that Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 can use to ensure all the Koopalings are compelling antagonists.
The Koopalings Are Likely To Appear In The Super Mario Bros, With Or Without Bowser
Regardless of whether Bowser is the villain or not, the Koopalings have excellent chances of appearing in The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2. They’re all major Mario villains who have gradually evolved into staples of the franchise that Mario fights on nearly a routine basis. But with there being seven of them, it was understandable that all The Super Mario Bros. Movie had room for quiet confirmation that they exist via its Ludwig Easter egg. To do anything more would rob screen-time from the core characters. For that reason, the Koopalings are a much better fit for a sequel when the franchise has already established and developed its main cast.
When keeping in mind all the allies Mario has courtesy of the first movie’s events, it may become necessary for Bowser to ramp up his forces if a rematch is on the horizon. Bringing in Ludgwig and the others could even the odds a bit, and perhaps spread the heroes thin when Bowser begins his next scheme. Not only that, but Bowser’s return may even hinge on them. Being shrunk rendered him harmless, meaning it may fall on the Koopalings to save him and put him back in position to wage war on the Mushroom Kingdom.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
- Release Date
- April 5, 2023
- Director
- Aaron Horvath , Michael Jelenic
- Cast
- Chris Pratt , Charlie Day , Jack Black , Anya Taylor-Joy , Keegan Michael Key , Seth Rogen
