With its transition from video games to its upcoming animated movie, Super Mario isn’t going to sound quite the same. Ever since the Italian plumber started speaking in Nintendo games, Mario has been voiced by Charles Martinet. While The Super Mario Bros. Movie Much like the video games, fans saw a different voice for Mario in the new trailer as the movie version of the iconic character is voiced by Chris Pratt.
Many fans have criticized Pratt’s casting, as a common argument is that Nintendo and Illumination should have stayed with Martinet for the role. Voiceover artist Tara Strong, who has provided voices for Harley Quinn, Twilight Sparkle and many other famous cartoon characters, also took to Twitter to review Mario’s new voice. Strong posted a picture of herself next to Martinet and kept it simple with her first tweet with a short message that read, “It should be Charles.”
In a follow-up tweet, Strong wrote: “Voice actors – I’m going to put my heart and soul into this for at least 20 years, selling billions in merch, making the studios millions of dollars and making generations around the world happy in Hollywood- We don’t care.”
Charles Martinet Casts Mysterious Role in Super Mario Bros. Movie
The good news is that Charles Martinet has not been forgotten by Nintendo and Illumination. When the full voice cast for the film was announced, his name was included. However, his character was not revealed. Maybe in the movie there will be a way to make Mario’s voice come into the video game, and then Martinet would jump at the chance. It’s also possible that he’s voicing an entirely different character, as nothing has been confirmed.
Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic direct from a screenplay by Matthew Fogel. The voice cast for the film also includes Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, 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.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie will be released in theaters on April 7, 2023 in North America, followed by a release in Japan on April 27, 2023.