Nintendo announced an impressive cast for their upcoming Super Mario Bros. movie, titled MARIO. Nintendo has partnered with Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment to produce a new animated film based on the popular video game series. The film is currently set for a holiday release date of December 21, 2022.
Since the film was announced in 2017, news on its production has been quiet. Universal did start their partnership with Nintendo early, first opening up Super Nintendo World in Universal Studios Japan in 2021 with Universal Studios Hollywood, Epic Universe at Universal Orlando Resort, and Universal Studios Singapore expected to get their own versions in the future. Now, attention on the movie is full steam ahead as during the Nintendo Direct presentation, they announced that Chris Pratt would voice Mario in the upcoming film.
Nintendo also announced the rest of the MARIO cast during the Nintendo Direct presentation and on Twitter following the presentation. Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) will voice Mario's younger brother Luigi. Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen's Gambit) is set to voice Princess Peach, Mario's main love interest. Comedian Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele) will voice Toad while Jack Black (School of Rock) will lend his voice to the iconic villain Bowser. Check out the casting announcement below:
The rest of the cast includes Seth Rogen (Knocked Up) as Donkey Kong and Fred Armisen (Portlandia) will voice Cranky Kong, who in the canon of the games, is the original Donkey Kong that Mario encountered in the 1981 arcade game. Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco (The Irishman) will voice Spike, the foreman who Mario and Luigi worked for in the game Wrecking Game and was the first actual casting news, confirmed by Maniscalco himself in August 2021. Kevin Michael Richardson (Lilo & Stich) will voice the villainous Kamek, who often acts as Bowser's parental figure. Last but not least, Charles Martinet, who voices Mario in the games will have a surprise cameo.
The cast is impressive, and the characters featured showcase the film will be drawing from Mario's vast history of games. Notably absent from the lineup is any mention of Yoshi. Due to the character not speaking in the games, the film may not have cast a big-name actor to voice the character and instead will use a more traditional voice actor or somebody from the games. The presence of Donkey Kong and Cranky Kong could lead to a potential spin-off film, as both Universal Pictures and Nintendo are looking into developing more movies after Super Mario Bros. Casting a high-profile comedic actor like Charlie Day not only works for a Mario movie, but also could lead his own spin-off film like an adaptation of Luigi's Mansion. Nintendo has spared no expense when it comes to the cast of MARIO and what they hope is the beginning of a new era for video game movies.
Source: Nintendo