The Super Mario Bros. Movie is seemingly setting up a massive cameo from Rosalina. Serving as a guide to Mario in the Super Mario Galaxy games, Rosalina is a key character in Nintendo’s video games. An appearance from Rosalina in Mario’s new movie has yet to be confirmed, but it’s become increasingly likely that she’ll be on hand in some form or another.
If Super Mario Galaxy’s Rosalina were to appear, she would join a super-sized cast of Nintendo heroes and villains. In addition to the usuals from the Mario games, such as Bowser and Toad, The Super Mario Bros. Movie has also found room for Donkey Kong and Cranky Kong. More fan favorites could be encountered by Mario over the course of his adventure in the movie, though who exactly he’ll meet remains to be seen for the time being. But if certain clues in the trailers are any indication, Rosalina will be among those showing up.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s Rosalina Setup Explained
Multiple teases point to Rosalina’s involvement, the biggest of which is the blue Luma in the final Super Mario Bros. trailer. Luigi spoke to one kept in a hanging cage. Presumably, the Luma is one of many prisoners held captive by Bowser. The idea that Bowser has captured a Luma immediately makes Rosalina relevant to the plot, as she has a reputation as a mother-like guardian to the Lumas in the Mario universe. Introduced in the Super Mario Galaxy games alongside Rosalina, the Lumas are mysterious cosmic creatures who rely on her for protection. If one is apprehended by Bowser, it stands to reason the villain’s activities will be on her radar.
Bolstering evidence for Rosalina having a role in Mario and Luigi’s movie is the movie’s cosmic connections. The film has made no secret of Rainbow Road being used as a setting, but it hasn’t explained where it fits into the equation. By suggesting that Mario and his friends are heading into space, The Super Mario Bros. Movie has created a clear place for Rosalina in the story. Another hint at Rosalina came from Princess Peach when she mentioned the “galaxies” endangered by Bowser. The word was taken as a rather overt Super Mario Galaxy reference. With Rosalina being such a fundamental part of the game, a dive into Super Mario Galaxy territory could easily lead to her introduction.
Super Mario Bros. Has Already Teased What Rosalina’s Role Would Be
By taking the stakes to a cosmic level and making a Luma a prisoner of the Koopa King, The Super Mario Bros. Movie has already made Rosalina a potential ally in the fight against Bowser. If other galaxies in the Mario universe are threatened by Bowser’s actions, it would make sense for the main characters to strike an alliance with her. As the leader of the Lumas and a wise figure in Mario’s games, there’s a good chance she would have something of value to offer them, whether it be guidance on how to stop Bowser from completing his plan or the assistance of the Lumas in the final battle.
Rosalina Makes A Super Mario Galaxy Movie Possible
The implications that go with a Rosalina appearance extend far beyond The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Although not a classic Nintendo character in the same sense as Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, and Bowser, Rosalina has developed an important presence in the franchise whose inclusion would speak volumes about the direction of the film. Rosalina acts as a doorway into the Super Mario Galaxy games, which is why bringing her into the fold would essentially open up a whole new corner of Mario’s universe to be explored on the big screen, but perhaps not to its full potential in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
The number of planets that exist in the Super Mario Galaxy games allows for a multitude of storytelling opportunities, but they’d be better left for a sequel. Since the first movie is sure to spend most of its time with the Mushroom Kingdom and the surrounding areas, it’s hard to imagine it having adequate room for the outer space portion of the Mario universe. For that reason, The Super Mario Bros. Movie may introduce Rosalina, but it’s unlikely to do much more than provide a glimpse at the world she represents.
By holding back on properly exploring this aspect of the Super Mario franchise, The Super Mario Bros. Movie can set it up to the primary setting of the second movie, which could wind up serving as a true Super Mario Galaxy adaptation. This would be a fitting approach, as a story centered on Mario’s outer space adventures would enable Nintendo and Illumination to create a Mario sequel that’s intrinsically different from what came before. Super Mario Galaxy can send Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, and the others to all sorts of different planets and solar systems in Mario’s games.
