Chris Pratt Cast as the Iconic Super Mario in a new animated movie ‘MARIO’

CHRIS Pratt will play Super Mario in a new animated movie, titled MARIO based on the iconic Nintendo video game character.

Video game movies have a long and largely disappointing track record, but that hasn’t stopped Hollywood from continuing to make them. The fortunes of video game movies have changed in recent years, with movies like Pokemon: Detective Pikachu, Tomb Raider, and Sonic the Hedgehog experiencing varying levels of success.

Nintendo has largely kept its roster of iconic video game characters out of the spotlight when it comes to movies or TV shows. They infamously made a live-action Super Mario Bros. movie in 1993, which has gained the reputation as being one of the worst video game movies of all time.

After years of focusing its attention on making more successful games for consoles like the Nintendo Switch, it was announced that Illumination was developing an animated movie that would star Super Mario. Details on the movie have been scarce ever since, but now that has changed.

As part of the Nintendo Direct live-stream event, it was announced that Chris Pratt will voice Mario in the upcoming but Super Mario animated movie, officially titled MARIO, as announced by Universal Pictures. Pratt is currently one of the most recognizable stars in Hollywood, thanks to his roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Jurassic World trilogy.

He also recently starred in Amazon’s hit sci-fi action film, The Tomorrow War, and is well-known for his role in Parks and Recreation. Now, he’ll get the chance to voice one of the most recognizable video game characters ever made. Nintendo also revealed nine other voice actors in the upcoming movie.

Pratt is one of ten cast members now confirmed to appear in the Super Mario animated movie. He’s joined by 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, Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike, and Charles Martinet – who voices Mario, Luigi, Wario, and more in the video games. It’s a stacked cast of recognizable names to give Nintendo and Illumination’s Super Mario film some star power.

It also won’t be the first time Pratt has led a major IP animated movie, as he voiced Emmett in and its sequel.

The reaction to Pratt playing Mario is already one that is dividing fans online, though. He isn’t exactly the first choice most would’ve had to voice the Italian plumber. However, the Super Mario movie clearly wanted a major star at its center.

With the movie not hitting theaters until December 2022, there will be plenty of time for fans to debate whether or not Pratt was the right choice. Ultimately, he’ll prove everyone right or wrong once MARIO is released next year.

(ROHN ROMULO)