We know that another Super Mario Bros. Movie is on the way (Nintendo confirmed it's coming in 2026, no less), but that doesn't mean that we are quite done talking about its predecessor just yet. In fact, there's something new to look at.
Jed Diffenderfer worked as a story developer and artist on the 2023 Illumination/Nintendo movie, and he has recently uploaded a fresh batch of concept art to his website which shows an initial vision for some of the movie's memorable moments as well as some sections that didn't make the cut (thanks, Nintendo Everything).
The eight images (which you can find below) show several scenes that fans of the film will surely recognise — Mario's first time in a warp pipe, Bowser's triumph over the Penguin King etc. — but the images that caught our eyes are the ones that we have never seen before. Yep, we're talking about Princess Daisy!
In two pieces of concept art, we can see Daisy in action (in what appears to be a high school flashback and a climactic Avengers: Endgame-style battle), suggesting that at one point, there was at least an idea for the fan-favourite princess' big-screen appearance. You can also grab a glance at other characters such as Toadette, a flying blue Yoshi and is that Toadsworth? What could have been, eh?
To be clear, Daisy's presence in early concept art doesn't mean that the character was necessarily cut or even seriously considered for the movie. There's every chance that Diffenderfer added the princess to some pieces simply to give a vibe for the proposed scene and the concept went no further. Then again, there's clearly no shortage of ideas for a sequel...
It's amazing to see Diffenderfer's art in such detail now that we know how the finished product came out. Be sure to check out the artist's website to see more of his previous work as well as a concept video for a stealthy Mario scene that never appeared in the final film.
What do you make of this concept art? Would you like to have seen Daisy make the final cut? Let us know in the comments.
[source jeddiffenderfer.com, via nintendoeverything.com]
Comments 42
Mario and Luigi will shave their moustache??
And both of them half naked??
Well, with the followup announced, Daisy has another shot. And so does Rosalina.
I'm glad they didn't go with the "Bowser got rejected at Toad High School" villain arc. ugh. horrid idea.
@Zulzar i agree, that would make Peach and Daisy the villains.
That first piece goes so hard, would've been more epic than the rainbow road chase scene imho. Not that that scene wasn't a great watch of course!
I want them to go into battle riding Yoshis in the sequel.
@Anti-Matter There is precedent in Mario Odyssey: https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/09/weirdness_people_just_cant_stop_talking_about_marios_nipples
@Yosher Bongos, get your bongos here!
PRINCESS DAY Z YEEEEAH!
I wouldnt mind if the whole movie was animated in this artstyle, it's gorgeous!
@Friendly @Zulzar why, because they rejected someone they didn't like?
Love this concept art and too bad for Daisy's inclusion in general and that cool battle scene, but on the other hand I'm glad they didn't go for some of these scenes, especially the prom one as @Zulzar and @Friendly mentioned!
@Princess_Lilly the issue isn't that Peach rejected Bowser, it's that she and everyone else are laughing at him.
LEGOSuperMario: Mario Kart just announced @nintendolife
@AmplifyMJ It was actually announced on 9th March
Maybe that subtitle should be "What could've been. What still could be"
No reason Princess Daisy couldn't be in the follow-up after all.
@Folkloner lol I completely missed that how embarrassing 🙈
Finally, someone with my name
@AmplifyMJ https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2024/03/super-mario-mario-kart-lego-releasing-in-2025
They wrote an article already.
@AmplifyMJ No worries. The original reveal was during the recent LEGO Super Mario video.
It's textbook Nintendo social media behaviour to re-broadcast announcements a few days after the initial one. It helps to give a singular piece of news its own spotlight, to advertise it to those who missed it, and to drum up further conversation.
I personally think that it’s funnier that Mouser gets a reference in this concept art.
@BTB20 I’m sitting here thinking I’m breaking news 🤣
@Princess_Lilly @Johnnymind it’s the laughing indeed
Yeah, I can see how "Mushroom High" didn't get past Nintendo's PR team.
If only every scene in the final product could have been replaced with something better. Oh Well. Looking forward to the Mediocre Bros. sequel.
@Friendly Indeed and funnily enough we've already seen such a scene (so something along those lines has actually already happened @Uncle_Franklin, although I'm also not certain Nintendo would have it nowadays) handled much better in the Warios Weihnachtsmärchen, Wario's Christmas Tale, comic!
Speaking of comics, I recommend also checking out the Super Mario Adventure one if you have never read it in general and also considering it has a lot in common with the Mario movie!
Newly revealed Mario Movie Concept Art Shows Princess Daisy In Action
"New concept art" implies that the concept art is new, and pertains to a yet to be released project.
Source: I've been reading magazine articles a long time 😅✌️
What would be the point of bringing Daisy in, considering movie-Peach is pratically Daisy in personality anyway? If I were in charge of the movie, I'd have both Luigi AND Peach be kidnapped, and have Mario, Toad and Daisy go on an adventure instead. Both Mario and Daisy would have something to prove - Mario turning from "regular" Mario to "super" Mario, Daisy from being the second-fiddle "literally who?" princess to someone who actually is proven to have the qualities to rule. Maybe have some set-up in the Mushroom Kingdom beforehand, with Peach going to negotiate with Bowser, Daisy going "alright, I'll hold down the fort while you're gone" and Peach going "oh-ho-ho-ho-ho, I know you mean well, sweetie, but you simply aren't ready for this yet."
You know, this concept art makes me realize how terrifying it could be to travel through the pipes. Some true body-horror. “I’m being squeeeeezed!”
I believe Daisy should make it in the sequel. She’s recognized at Super Nintendo World. Mario Wonder has been her breakout moment as far as Nintendo’s concerned.
I like how Luigi actually runs the plumbing business, at least at first. The one with Mario infiltrating an enemy castle through its pipes is cool. Overall, I just like how all this artwork just features more characters in general. That’s one area the sequel can still improve upon.
@Anti-Matter to me, the sepia tone implies it's a flashback scene to when the bros were teenagers (note the shaggy hair) and Mario is lamenting he can't yet grow a proper moustache while Luigi had managed to get start getting one. Would be a nice little detail that while Luigi has his vulnerabilities, Mario had his own when being compared to Luigi when he was younger. The van with the Luigi Bros logo seems to suggest that Luigi was the more popular brother at the start of the film. I guess it got changed so it suited their more traditional roles
Or I might be reading too much into it
@martynstuff : I don't think you are reading too much into it.
I feel certain that it is indeed a flashback moment of the Mario bros as teens. Maybe a scene that was gonna be squeezed afterwards in Luigi's memories (after the 'Baby Mario & Baby Luigi' flashback seen in the movie) but got cut.
Would have been funny to see. ^^
@Friendly Since when is rejecting someone considers them a "villain."
@IceEarthGuard it’s the laughing and pointing as others in the comments have already pointed out
@Friendly Sure, but I don't consider that being "villainess." Maybe just a low key "villain?" But it's probably best to use the term "bully" instead.
Regardless I am glad they didn't went with that route with Peach in the movie.
are Mario and Luigi shaving? XD
I'm interested in how daisy will be characterized. Peach imo took on a lot of the personality I imagined Daisy would have. I guess they could lean hard into the sarasaland aspect and go with a a Spanish or Indian coded imagining of her to differentiate her further.
Mario looks like a creep in this pic
I'm kind of glad, the generic epic Avengers/Ready Player 1 big battle are so trite by now and its very un-Mario, the Rainbow Road scene was more unique.
squints
Is that Perry? Perry the Parasol?
I'll admit the high school part was interesting, but also very OOC for everybody. The Endgame-style battle, full of all-encompassing Mario characters, references and lore, on the other hand? now that would be something great to see for subsequent film(s).
@Zulzar I know I just saw that concept art SOOO glad they didint do that lmfao
@Yosher IV been dreaming of a scene like that in the games (the closest to it I think was Mario galaxy) I would love to see a big epic battle in the mario universe.
@Yosher It makes so much sense. Yoshis are the horses of the Mario world except they can also fly and spit fire. If Peachs army would run into battle I would imagine alot of toads and Mario and Luigi Riding in on Yoshis.
@Arcata it really would be epic to see and I'll be disappointed if something close to it wouldn't happen in the new movie. It would have made sense in the Princess Peach Showtime game as well for Knight Peach or something to ride a Yoshi in such a fashion.
@Yosher Yea that would be cool! it would have been neat if they had her and an enemy joust while riding yoshis lol
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