Sebastian Maniscalco, the voice of Spike in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, recently expressed uncertainty about his character’s return in the sequel. During an interview with ScreenRant, Maniscalco humorously attributed his doubt to the lack of Spike merchandise at Universal Studios’ Super Nintendo World. “I was with my kids,” he recounted, “I go, ‘Guys, come on. I’m going to show you daddy’s character in a stuffed animal.’ No Spike, no nothing.” He jokingly added, “The fact that I didn’t have a stuffed animal is not giving me a lot of confidence that I’m coming back for the sequel.”
altSebastian Maniscalco’s Spike antagonizes Mario in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
While Maniscalco’s observation is amusing, the absence of Spike merchandise doesn’t necessarily predict his character’s future. Spike, originally from the Wrecking Crew game, is a relatively minor character in the broader Mario universe. His limited appearances in other games, coupled with a recent name change in Japan due to the movie, contribute to his lower merchandise profile. It’s unlikely children are demanding plushies of Mario and Luigi’s former antagonist.
Furthermore, Spike’s story arc in the first film concluded satisfyingly. Initially portrayed as a harsh supervisor to Mario and Luigi, he ultimately cheers them on in the finale. This narrative closure could explain his potential absence from the sequel.
altSpike’s limited appearances could explain lack of merchandise.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel is scheduled for release on April 3rd, 2026. With considerable time remaining, any official announcements regarding character appearances, including Spike’s, are still pending. As 2025 approaches, more information about the film is expected to be revealed.
Ultimately, whether Spike returns remains to be seen. While Maniscalco’s comments and the lack of merchandise raise questions, they don’t definitively confirm his absence. Fans will have to wait for official news from Universal and Nintendo. What other characters would you like to see in The Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel?
