Chris Pratt addresses the controversy regarding his voice in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Known for his role in Parks and Recreation before transitioning to blockbuster franchises like Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World, Pratt's casting as Mario in the animated movie has caused much controversy. Initially criticized as stunt casting that could potentially be offensive if he uses a stereotypical Italian accent, once The Super Mario Bros. Movie trailer was released, the criticism shifted toward Pratt's failure to replicate the iconic character's voice.
Now, during a recent interview with Extra TV, Pratt addressed the criticism aimed at his voice in The Super Mario Bros. Movie for not sounding Italian enough. The actor gave a thoughtful response, promising that the Nintendo adaptation honors the iconic video game and will not upset its passionate fanbase. Read what Pratt said or watch a video of the interview below, starting at 0:54:
Go watch the movie and then we can talk. I really think that once you see the movie, and in all honesty, I think you probably need to watch it twice. In all honesty, the answer though is that this is a passionate fan base, and I understand, I'm a part of it. This is the soundtrack to your youth, and you don't want someone to come along and cynically destroy it as a cash grab with the movie. I fully understand that you do not want that to happen and there were so many hearts and souls and minds dedicated to making sure that didn't happen. The movie really honors the video game. It honors the world of Mario and is very promising as to what we could expect over the next 10 years like an entire universe of these types of movies. They're super nostalgic. They're really fun. It's Illumination, so they know what they're doing.
Why Chris Pratt's Mario Voice Has Been So Controversial
Pratt's casting as Mario initially caused concern about his accent potentially being offensive considering the actor's non-Italian background. There is a faction of the fanbase, including voice actor Tara Strong, who would have rather seen the original video game actor Charles Martinet reprise the role, though he will make voice cameo appearances throughout the animated movie. Once the first Super Mario Bros. Movie trailer revealed Pratt's Mario voice, the criticism shifted to his failure to replicate the character's iconic Italian accent. Instead, Pratt seemed to simply be speaking in his normal voice.
Pratt has now responded to the Mario voice controversy by suggesting that audiences see the movie not just once, but twice before making any premature criticisms regarding his vocal performance. By this, Pratt is likely referring to how the movie portrays Mario as a blue-collar Italian-American plumber from Brooklyn, which partially explains why his voice differs from the thick Italian accent from the games. It won't be long until audiences can see The Super Mario Bros. Movie and make up their own minds about Pratt's controversial Mario voice.
Source: Extra TV
