Let’s go! The first trailer for Nintendo and Illumination’s upcoming animated adaptation of Super Mario Bros. has arrived. Released courtesy of Universal Studios, the Schief mario bros. movie stars Guardians of the Galaxys Chris Pratt and It’s always sunny in Philadelphia star Charlie Day as the titular brothers, Mario and Luigi. Watch the first trailer for Super Mario Bros. below!
Based on the hugely popular video game franchise and featuring the beloved Nintendo characters, Super Mario Bros. will follow the iconic plumber as he travels to Toad Town and embarks on an adventure through an underground labyrinth with his brother, Luigi, in an attempt to rescue a captive princess.
Directed by Aaron Horvath (The contracted film: the film!) and Michael Jelenic (Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League), who together delivered the critically acclaimed animated outing Teen Titans go! To the movies in 2018, and from a screenplay by Matthew Fogel, the Super Mario Bros. movie is all set to feature a great cast of voices.
Leading the gang is Guardians of the Universe and The Lego movie star Chris Pratt as Mario, with It’s always sunny in Philadelphia and comrade The Lego movie star Charlie Day as his plumber brother, Luigi. The rest of the cast includes Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong, Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek and Sebastian Maniscalco as Foreman spike. Additionally, Charles Martinet, who has provided the voice of Mario in the franchise for many years, has been confirmed to appear in an undisclosed cameo.
Chris Pratt will provide the voice of Mario
Chris Pratt’s casting as the voice of Mario has been met with some backlash from fans, with many wondering why Charles Martinet, who has voiced the character in the video game series since 1992, didn’t win the role.
Pratt, for his part, has described bringing Mario to life on the big screen as a dream come true.
“So when I was a kid, I lived in Lake Stevens, Washington. And there’s a coin-operated laundromat near my house, and it had Super Mario Bros., the original arcade game,” Pratt said last September. when his casting was announced. “Oh, I loved that game. I never had a quarter, it felt like. I’d either steal them from the wishing well…that’s wild. It just dawned on me now. The quarter I stole from the wishing well to play Super Mario Bros. has come true, that I get to be the voice of Mario. But obviously I stole someone else’s wish, so I’m just waiting for that row of karma dominoes to crash down on me.”
Despite early criticism, Pratt’s performance is backed by producer Chris Meledandri. “Chris was cast because we felt he could give a great performance as Mario,” he said earlier this year. “And now that we’ve done about 15 shoots and the film is three-quarters done, I’m sitting here and saying I love his performance as Mario.”
Super Mario Bros. is scheduled for release in the United States on April 7, 2023 by Universal Pictures.