Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty
Grab your favorite overalls and turtle shells because it’s time to return to the Mushroom Kingdom.
The Super Mario Bros. Moviepremiered on April 7, 2023, and Mario and Luigi collected a ton of coins. The film scored the top opening of all time for an animated film with $377 million in worldwide ticket sales.
The movie follows Mario and the gang as they try to stop Bowser from taking over the world. On top of being based on theSuper Mario Bros.games, other Nintendo series likeMario Kart,Luigi’s MansionandDonkey Kong Countrywere also used for inspiration.
First announced in 2021, the animated movie was able to attract a fantastic all-star cast thanks to Mario’s popularity and the support from Nintendo. Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto said at the time that he and the company were excited to collaborate withChris Pratt,Anya-Taylor Joy,Jack Blackand more on the project.
Here’s everything to know about the stars voicing Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and more inTheSuper Mario Bros. Movie.
Chris Pratt as Mario
Illumination/Universal ; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
Chris Pratt, 43, will be leading the cast as the main video game character Mario.
Prior to joining the cast, Pratt starred in numerous blockbuster franchises likeJurassic WorldandGuardians of the Galaxy. But before becoming an action hero, Pratt’s first major role was Andy Dwyer in all seven seasons of NBC’sParks and Recreationfrom2009 to 2015.
Initially, there was controversy over Pratt’s casting, with some fans saying the voice actor behind Mario should have Italian heritage (like the game character). John Leguizamo, who played Luigi in the 1993 film, even spoke out and criticizedthe studio for not casting a person of color. However, the producersquickly defended Pratt, saying he’s done a fantastic job at bringing Mario to life.
The actor admitted onan episode ofThe Kelly Clarkson Showthat there were some challenges to the role because of how little is actually known about Mario as a character, saying, “These characters are just kind of avatars for the player … so how are we gonna flesh out the character, and who is this guy? What world does he live in? How can we tell a 90-minute-long story about the character that everybody knows, but they don’t really know his story.”
Outside of his career, Pratt is currently married toKatherine Schwarzenegger, daughter of actorArnold SchwarzeneggerandMaria Shriver. The couple havetwo children together, Lyla and Eloise. Pratt also has a son,Jack, with his former wife, actressAnna Faris.
Later in 2023, Pratt will star inGuardians of the Galaxy Pt. 3. In 2024, he’s set to lead the voice cast ofGarfield, based on the famous comic, alongsideSamuel L. JacksonandVing Rhames.
Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach
Illumination/Universal ; Mike Marsland/WireImage
Anya Taylor-Joy, 26, will portray Princess Peach, monarch of the Mushroom Kingdom.
The actress is best known for her Golden Globe-winning role inThe Queen’s Gambit(2020), as well as starring in movies likeThe Menu(2022) and the 2020 adaptation of Jane Austen’sEmma.
Princess Peach was the classic damsel in distress throughout most of the game series. But in the film, Peach takes on a new, more empowered role, helping Mario rescue his brother, Luigi, and save the Mushroom Kingdom.
Outside of acting,Taylor-Joy is dating Malcolm McRae, an indie musician who is part of the duo More*, alongside former Portugal. The Man drummer, Kane Ritchotte. The couple alsoshare the same birthday, both being born on April 16. To celebrate their joint birthdays in 2022, Taylor-Joy posted photos of them together on Instagram with the caption, “16.04.94 ♾ 16.04.96,” referencing their birth dates.
Charlie Day as Luigi
Universal ; Phillip Faraone/FilmMagic
Day is best known for portraying Charlie Kelly onIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiaand has had starring roles in movies likeHorrible Bosses(2011) andPacific Rim(2013). He’s also done some voice acting in the past alongside hisSuper Mario Bros.costar Pratt, as both actors star inThe Lego Moviefranchise together.
During an interview onTheKelly ClarksonShow, Day said he was perfect for the role of Luigi because of his voice, saying, “I have a hard timenotsounding like a cartoon character.”
In early 2022, he also toldJimmy Kimmelhow secretive the plot ofThe Super Mario Bros. Moviewas, telling the host, “I’m playing Luigi. In fact, I was just recording that this morning and I’d love to tell you all about it but they’re top secret about this stuff … I know nothing, I show up and they say: ‘You say this, and you say that.’ "
In 2006, the actormarried actress Mary Elizabeth Ellis, whoIt’s Always Sunnyfans will recognize as The Waitress from the series.
Jack Black as Bowser
Universal ; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty
Comedy legend Jack Black, 53, is taking on the role of Bowser, the evil Koopa King who wants to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom.
The role is a massive departure for Black who rarely plays the antagonist in movies and is instead known for his comedic performances in films likeSchool of Rock(2003),Kung Fu Panda(2008) andShallow Hal(2001).
Black never saw his role as villainous though, tellingKelly Clarksonthat he thought Bowser was “the bad boy of this movie.” He continued, “It’s like metal. He’s the hardest-rocking character. I could connect to it right away.”
Rocking out is nothing new to Black who, on top of being an actor, is also in the Grammy-winningparody metal duo Tenacious D, alongside Kyle Glass.
During a Q&A session at Comic-Con, Black even said his rock career helped him create the Bowser character. According toNintendoLife, he reportedly said to a fan, “I did bring some of my heavy metal roots because, in a way, Bowser is kind of like a heavy metal rock star. You know, a big, strong and scary rock star.”
Black has beenmarried to artist Tanya Hadensince 2006 and the couple have two children together. Black also has numerous family members who are notable in the scientific fields. His mother was Judith Love Cohen, a famous aerospace engineer who worked on the Apollo space program and the Hubble Telescope, and his half-brother is Neil Siegel, a prominent computer scientist known for inventing technologies that furthered wireless internet and GPS systems for the U.S. military and consumer smartphones.
Next up, Black will reprise his role as Po in the upcomingKung Fu Panda 4and will voice Claptrap in the highly-anticipatedfilm adaptation ofBorderlands, where he’ll star alongsideJamie Lee Curtis,Cate Blanchett,Kevin Hart, andCheyenne Jackson.
Keegan-Michael Key as Toad
Universal ; Michael Loccisano/Getty
Comedian and actorKeegan-Michael Key, 52, is taking on the role of Toad, the most well-known resident of the Mushroom Kingdom. In most of the games, Toad is an NPC (non-playable character) and rarely has a major role in the plot, so it’s still unknown what role he’ll have in the film.
Whenspeaking withFandango, Key gave some insight into what he thinks Toad wants and how he brought the character to life, saying, “I think he’s been looking for an adventure in his life, I think he’s been wanting to be the guy who could step up and help Princess Peach … he wants something to protect, he wants his life to have some kind of meaning.”
Key is also set to star inWonka, a prequel toCharlie and the Chocolate FactorywhereTimothy Chalamet will take on the titular roleand play a young Willy Wonka.
Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong inThe Super Mario Bros. Movie(2023); Seth Rogen.Universal ; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Seth Rogen, 40, will portray Donkey Kong, the barrel-throwing ape who was originally Mario’s enemy in the classic arcade game. But throughout the years, DK has transformed from antagonist to protagonist, starring in his own popular game series,Donkey Kong Country. In the movie, Donkey Kong and Mario begin as adversaries but eventually team up to defeat Bowser.
During a video announcement at a Nintendo Direct event in 2022, Rogen shared that he’s a huge Nintendo fan and even named his dog Zelda. He’s also always wanted to be in a Mario movie, saying, “I remember looking atMario Bros.and thinking, if they ever make a movie out of this, I better be in it, and I’m happy to say that dream came true.”
Rogen is best known for his comedic performances and has starred in tons of blockbuster comedies likeKnocked Up(2007),Superbad(2007) andNeighbors(2014). In 2022, he was nominated for an Emmy thanks to his role inPam & Tommy. On top of acting, Rogen regularly serves as a producer and writer for many of his films.
He is also known for his love of cannabis and he even created ahome goods brandcalled Houseplant that sells ashtrays, lighters and more, all with a mid-century design. When speaking to PEOPLE about the brand, Rogen said, “I’m of the belief that weed is one of the best things in the world. So to that end, I think it deserves nice things to go along with it.”
Rogen is also set to do a lot more voice work: He is starring in numerous upcoming animated sequels likeKung Fu Panda 4,Sausage Party: FoodtopiaandMufasa: The Lion King.
Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong
Darren Eagles/Getty
Character actorFred Armisen, 56, will play Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong’s grandfather.
So far, very little has been seen of Cranky’s role in the movie, but in the games, he’s a cantankerous and grumpy old ape who spits out blistering one-liners and constantly (and hilariously) critiques DK and the rest of the Kong crew.
Aside from voicing the Kong elder, Armisen is best known for his 11 seasons onSaturday Night Live(2002-2013) and his sketch comedy seriesPortlandia(2011-2018). Armisen also stars in various series likeDocumentary Now!(2015-2022) and is the band leader forLate Night withSeth Meyers.
On top of acting, Armisen has a long career in punk rock. Before he got started in Hollywood, he was a member of the punk band Trenchmouth that formed in the late ’80s.
Armisen’s first marriage was to indie English singer Sally Timms in 1998. After their divorce in 2002, he began datingThe Handmaid’s Talestar,Elisabeth Moss. The two were married from 2009 to 2011. After their divorce, Moss said the marriage was “extremely traumatic and awful and horrible.” Shortly after, Armisen appeared onThe Howard Stern Show, telling the host, “I was a terrible husband.”
Most recently, Armisen was in a long-term relationship with actressNatasha Lyonneuntil 2022 whenLyonne confirmed they had split. However, she says the two remain good friends,tellingThe Hollywood Reporter, “We love each other just about as much as two people can love each other and we’re still talking all the time.”
Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamet
Universal ; JC Olivera/WireImage
Fanboy extraordinaire Kevin Michael Richardson, 58, will play Kamet, a wizard Koopa who helps Bowser. Kamet is one of the main antagonists in theYoshigames and also appears in theMario KartandMario Partyseries. In the movie, he’ll be one of Bowser’s main henchmen.
Outside of film and television, Richardson also has a lofty career voicing video game characters and has been featured in gaming franchises likeStar Wars,Halo,Kingdom HeartsandBaldur’s Gate.
He’s married to fellow voice actor and filmmaker Monica Richardson. She has two children from a previous marriage.
Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike
JC Olivera/Getty
Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, 49, will be playing Mario and Luigi’s boss, Spike. Many viewers likely haven’t heard of Spike before. The character was introduced inWrecking Crew, a 1984 arcade game that was a spin-off ofDonkey Kong(the first game to feature Mario).Wrecking Crewwas released the year beforeSuper Mario Bros.would launch on the Nintendo Entertainment System (Famicom), turning the plumbing twins into a global sensation.
Maniscalco is most known for his career as a stand-up comedian and spent years doing shows at The Comedy Store, Los Angeles’s famous comedy club on the Sunset Strip. In recent years, Maniscalco has also landed numerous stand-up specials on Netflix, includingStay HungryandIs It Me?.
While speaking to PEOPLE in 2018, Maniscalco stated that he’salways loved comedyand that being a stand-up comedian was his dream, saying, “I loved making my family laugh, and I wasn’t watching cartoons when I was a kid. I would watch Johnny Carson with my father … I told myself it was comedy or bust.”
Off stage, Maniscalco is married to abstract artist Lana Gomez. The couple have been married since 2013 and have two children, a daughter and a son.
Maniscalco will take on the biggest role of his career this summer when he stars inAbout My Father. Based on Maniscalco’s real life, the actor willstar alongside Robert De Niro, who plays his traditional Italian father that decides to join him on a weekend retreat with his girlfriend’s family.
source: people.com
