The Super Mario Bros. Movie is one of the most anticipated films of 2023, here's every confirmed character so far. From Universal and Illumination Studios, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is the first adaptation of Nintendo's popular video game series since the mistaken 1993 Super Mario Bros. Unlike its predecessor, the upcoming Mario adaptation will be animated, rather than live-action, with the characters controversially having their video game accents replaced with the voices of famous Hollywood stars.
Nintendo should be optimistic that The Super Mario Bros. Movie will be successful. In recent times the popularity and quality of video game movie adaptations has grown. Sonic the Hedgehog, Uncharted, and Nintendo's own Detective Pikachu all received largely positive reviews and performed well at the global box office. Mario is the best-selling video game franchise of all time with over 760 million sales, which should generate worldwide interest in the upcoming movie.
The popularity of Mario video games has sparked debate online following the release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie trailer. Popular Mario characters, like Yoshi, are missing from the movie's confirmed cast and haven't appeared in the movie's promotional material, while some of The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s cast have come under fire because certain characters sound so different from their video game counterparts. Still, there is plenty to be excited about for the upcoming Super Mario movie, and the trailer suggests that the Mario universe will be well explored. Here's every confirmed character for The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Mario
Nintendo's most famous character, Mario, will star in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, in what is set to be a classic adventure for the mustached plumber. The trailer shows Mario transported to the Mushroom Kingdom, where he will likely go on a mission to rescue Princess Peach from his nemesis Bowser, as he so often does in the video game series. Mario is known for using a variety of power-ups and with the trailer already revealing that at least one Super Star will feature in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, expect to see the hero gain different abilities.
Chris Pratt will voice Mario and the Guardians of the Galaxy star has already received backlash for his performance. Pratt's Mario accent sounds exactly like Pratt rather than the upbeat Italian character from the video games. Interestingly, Charles Martinet, who has voiced Mario in the games since 1992, has been confirmed for The Super Mario Bros. Movie ,although it's currently unknown in what capacity he is involved. Complementing Pratt's fresh take on Mario with some of Martinet's iconic catchphrases could be a good way of including the character's history in this new story.
Luigi
Mario's loyal younger brother Luigi will also star in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The amiable Luigi is a nervous, timid character, but that doesn't stop him from helping his friends. The Super Mario Bros. Movie trailer shows that Luigi will be depicted in much the same way, as Luigi is briefly shown frantically running away from a troop of Dry Bones in a setting that looks similar to the Luigi's Mansion games. In an inspired casting choice, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's Charlie Day will voice Luigi and the shrieks heard in the trailer suggest that Day will perfectly capture Luigi's personality.
Toad
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Toad, the trusty companion of Princess Peach, will support Mario on his adventure in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. In the Mario video games, Toad is usually depicted as a cheery character who frightens easily, but like Luigi, he is always to help his friends who are in danger. It's not been confirmed yet whether other Toads will feature in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, but given that Mario will be in the Mushroom Kingdom, there's a good chance that more will appear. Keegan-Michael Key, best known for co-starring in the famous sketch show Key & Peele, will voice Toad and serve as Mario's guide through the movie.
Bowser
Mario's greatest enemy, Bowser, will be the big bad in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The King of the Koopas has been in conflict with Mario since 1985 as he frequently kidnaps Princess Peach and attempts to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom. Bowser's iconic threatening look paired with imposing physical qualities, including fire breath, make him the ultimate boss for Mario to go up against. Excitingly, a powered-up version of Bowser, like Fury Bowser, could appear in the Mario movie as he retrieves a Super Star in the trailer - although he is arguably powerful enough in his currently revealed form, as he has already been shown single-handedly destroying the Snow Kingdom. Hollywood great Jack Black is perfectly cast as Bowser, who is already the best thing about The Super Mario Bros. Movie, if the trailer is anything to go by.
Kamek
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While Mario has Luigi and Toad, Bowser's sidekick is Kamek, a mystical Magikoop whose use of magic often gives Bowser an advantage over his enemies. Interestingly, Kamek is the arch-enemy of Yoshi in the video games, who has been missing from The Super Mario Bros. Movie's advertising. Voice acting veteran Kevin Michael Richardson, who has provided the voices for Mortal Kombat, Lilo & Stitch, and Family Guy, will lend his distinctively deep voice to Kamek in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
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One of the minor characters confirmed for The Super Mario Bros. Movie is the Penguin King. In the Mario video games, penguins are fairly harmless characters who at worst just get in the way of Mario during his adventures. Universal’s divisive Super Mario Bros. Movie is fleshing out the personalities of the penguins, who reside in the Snow Kingdom and have established a king who naively stands up to Bowser in the trailer. Bringing similar energy to his role as King Ezekiel in The Walking Dead, Khary Payton provides the voice of the Penguin King.
Princess Peach
The most famous Nintendo character who has been confirmed for The Super Mario Bros. Movie but didn't appear in the first trailer is Princess Peach. One of the most famous female characters in video game history, Princess Peach is the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom and Mario’s love interest. Peach is often the archetypal damsel in distress, and she will likely need to be saved from Bowser in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. However, the princess also has unique abilities of her own, including the ability to float in midair. Anya Taylor-Joy, known for her performances in The Witch, The Queen's Gambit, and The Northman, will voice Princess Peach in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, marking her second voice acting role following The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.
Donkey Kong
Another hugely popular character confirmed for The Super Mario Bros. Movie is Donkey Kong. First appearing in the 1981 Donkey Kong platform game, which also marked Mario's video game debut, Donkey Kong has evolved from antagonist to chilled-out and fun-loving hero who uses his strength to battle anyone who threatens his friends or bananas. Donkey Kong's role in The Super Mario Bros. Movie is not yet known, but it's a good bet that he will help either Mario or Luigi during their quests. Movie veteran Seth Rogen will voice Donkey Kong, which could be a great fit given his relaxed personality and distinctive laugh.
Cranky Kong
Donkey Kong's grumpy grandfather Cranky Kong will play a supporting role in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Cranky Kong, who has since been retconned to be the villainous Kong who appeared in the 1980s Donkey Kong arcade games, is usually a bad-tempered guide in the video games who often breaks the fourth wall. Currently, Cranky is the only other Kong confirmed for The Super Mario Bros. Movie, although it wouldn't be a surprise if Diddy or Funky Kong made an appearance if Mario or Luigi travel to DK Island. Joining the cast of The Super Mario Bros. Movie to voice Cranky Kong is comedian Fred Armisen, best known for his 11-year stint on Saturday Night Live.
Foreman Spike
The most obscure character confirmed for The Super Mario Bros. Movie is Foreman Spike. First appearing in the Wrecking Crew video game series, Spike is a villain who tried to hinder Mario and Luigi's progress while they worked on a construction site. He will likely be a bad guy henchman in The Super Mario Bros. Movie where he will be voiced by The Irishman actor Sebastian Maniscalco.