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Super Mario Movie Cast, Release Date And Trailer

Published 12:15, 24 September 2021 BST
| Last updated 12:16, 24 September 2021 BST

Chris Pratt has been cast as Mario in a new Super Mario movie adaptation - and fans are divided.

The animated movie has been in the making since 2017, and Nintendo, in its first Hollywood venture, has cast an array of A-listers to voice the famous Italian brothers and their motley crew. But fans are surprised that no Italian actors are voicing Mario and Luigi.

Over on Twitter, many have deemed the cast a "disaster."

Twitch streamer @hasanabi said: "Chris Pratt playing Mario is Italiaphobia and I'm tired of acting like it isn't."

But another said they've never considered Mario to be an authentic Italian character anyway, so what's the issue?

"I am Italian, born and raised in Italy. Mario is a Japanese character who says random Italian words with an American accent," said Twitter user @manfroze.

"As an Italian from Italy, Super Mario has never been Italian anyway. It's a Japanese game with random Italian words and names," wrote Twitter user @FedericaVia.

Another, going by the username @B_Words, came to the Guardians of the Galaxy actor's defence, saying: "It's an animated movie. He's an actor. Do you have any idea how many voice actors play different races, ethnicities, even genders?"

Super Mario movie cast

Alongside Chris Pratt, comedian Charlie Day will play Luigi. There's also:

Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong
Jack Black as the devious Bowster
Anya Taylor-Joy as the damsel in distress, Princess Peach
Michael-Key as Toad
Frank Armisen as Cranky Kong
Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike
Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek

Super Mario movie release date

The movie lands in cinemas on 21st December 2021.

Describing the plot of the new Super Mario Bros. movie, IMDb said: "A plumber named Mario travels through an underground labyrinth with his brother, Luigi, trying to save a captured princess. Feature film adaptation of the popular video game."