The Super Mario Bros. Movie features beloved video game characters on a huge screen.
The animated picture, which is based on Nintendo’s Mario property, follows Mario (Chris Pratt) and his younger brother Luigi (Charlie Day) as they launch their own plumbing company. The movie starts out with the siblings attempting to succeed in their new career venture, but eventually it takes viewers on an action-packed adventure across the Mushroom Kingdom as Mario sets out to save Luigi after the latter is taken prisoner by Bowser (Jack Black) and his army.
Along with Anya Taylor-Joy, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, Fred Armisen, Sebastian Maniscalco, Charles Martinet, and Kevin Michael Richardson, Pratt leads an all-star group.
The cast is probably aware of how difficult it will be to embody the beloved roles.
At the moment they offered it to me, I was a little anxious. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Pratt discussed the pressure he felt to play the title character before the film’s L.A. premiere. “I thought, ‘Wow, let’s not screw this up,” Pratt said. People have a strong attachment to this character and have probably witnessed the destruction of some of their beloved intellectual property. It’s a somewhat cynical industry. People only produce movies based on a title’s popularity.
The film was co-directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, based on a script written by Matthew Fogel.
THR looks at the performers portraying the Nintendo characters in the 2023 animated movie below.
Mario, played by Chris Pratt
Mario is a struggling Brooklyn, New York-based Italian-American plumber. After being taken prisoner by Bowser’s troops, Luigi travels to Mushroom Kingdom on a quest to rescue his younger sibling.
Pratt became well-known after starring on The WB’s Everwood. From 2009 to 2015, he played Andy Dwyer on NBC’s Parks and Recreation. In addition to starring in the sitcom, the actor was in supporting roles in the movies Her, Moneyball, Jennifer’s Body, and Zero Dark Thirty. After playing Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014, Pratt returned to the character in four more Marvel films. From 2015 to 22, he also portrayed Owen Grady in the Jurassic World trilogy. Pratt has voiced characters in Onward and The Lego Movie before, so he is no stranger to animation. He will be the voice of the title character in the 2024 motion picture Garfield in his next animation effort.
Princess Peach, Anya Taylor-Joy
Princess Peach serves as Mario’s mentor, love interest, and advisor in her role as the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom. She was reared by the Toads that reside in Mushroom Kingdom and have lived there since she was a baby.
Taylor-Joy first starred in the horror movie The Witch. She then went on to star in other horror films, such as Split and Glass, the sequel. Her roles in Amsterdam, The Northman, The Menu, and Last Night in Soho are among her other noteworthy cinema credits. In the Netflix miniseries The Queen’s Gambit, Taylor-Joy played Beth Harmon, for which she received awards from the Screen Actors Guild and the Golden Globes. The Gorge and Furiosa are the actress’s next motion pictures.
Charlie Day in the role of Luigi
Mario’s shy younger brother and business associate is named Luigi. Luigi is taken prisoner by Bowser and his troops, so Mario sets out to save him.
Day is best known for his role as Charlie Kelly in the critically acclaimed comedy series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia on FX, an executive producer of the show as well. In addition, he co-created Mythic Quest on Apple TV+ with Rob McElhenney and Megan Ganz, and The Cool Kids on Fox with Paul Fruchbom. The actor has also been successful in movies, appearing in Horrible Bosses, Horrible Bosses 2, Horrible Bosses, and Pacific Rim Uprising. This is not Day’s first animated movie, Super Mario Bros. Movie is not. He has done voice acting for characters in the Lego Movie franchise and Monsters University in the past. Day is scheduled to direct his first feature picture, Fool’s Paradise, which he also created and stars in, in May 2023.
Bowser, played by Jack Black
The king of the Koopas and the head of the Dark Lands is Bowser. In the film, he tries to take over the Mushroom Kingdom by stealing the potent Super Star. In addition, Bowser intends to wed Princess Peach.
Black has provided the voice for other animation projects, such as the Kung Fu Panda series and the video games Psychonauts 2, Broken Age, and Brutal Legend, in addition to The Super Mario Bros. Movie. In addition, the actor starred in a number of live-action movies, including Jumanji: A Film Franchise, High Fidelity, Shallow Hal, Orange County, School of Rock, Envy, King Kong, The Holiday, Gulliver’s Travels, Bernie, The House With a Clock in Its Walls, and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.
As Toad, Keegan-Michael Key
Toad, a citizen of Mushroom Kingdom and a member of the Toad species, longs to embark on an adventure.
Key has had a prosperous career in both movies and television. In addition to co-creating and starring on Comedy Central’s Key & Peele from 2012 to 2015, he also starred in Playing House on USA Network from 2014 to 2017, Friends from College on Netflix from 2017 to 2019, and Reboot on Hulu in 2022. Key has had minor appearances in the movies Horrible Bosses 2, Pitch Perfect 2, Don’t Think Twice, Dolemite Is My Name, and The Prom in addition to her recurrent roles on Parks and Recreation and Fargo. The Lego Movie, the Hotel Transylvania series, Storks, The Angry Birds Movie, and Toy Story 4 are just a few of the animated movies in which the actor has appeared. He is currently the lead actor in Schmigadoon on AppleTV+ as Josh Skinner!
Donkey Kong, played by Seth Rogen
The mighty anthropomorphic gorilla Donkey Kong is the heir apparent to the Jungle Kingdom’s throne. While traveling through Mushroom Kingdom, the brothers come across King Donkey, and Mario and the heir even engage in a titanic battle.
Known for his humorous parts, Rogen has acted in movies such as Long Shot, Neighbors, and Knocked Up. The actor wrote, produced, and starred in the R-rated cartoon feature Sausage Party in addition to writing and acting in Superbad, Pineapple Express, and This Is the End. He also shown his dramatic acting skills in the films Steve Jobs, The Fabelmans, and Take This Waltz. Rogen has acted in television shows like Pam & Tommy, Undeclared, and Freaks and Geeks.
Being King Cranky Kong, Fred Armisen
As the king of the Jungle Kingdom, Cranky Kong is in charge of the Kong Army, among other duties. In addition, he is Donkey Kong’s dad.
Armisen co-created and performed in IFC’s Portlandia from 2011 to 2018, following his stint as a star on Saturday Night Live from 2002 to 2013. The actor went on to co-create the Showtime comedy Moonbase 8 (2020–present) and the IFC mockumentary series Documentary Now! (2015–present). In addition to making guest appearances on a number of television programs, including 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, New Girl, Broad City, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Difficult People, and The Last Man on Earth, Armisen led the 8G Band on Late Night With Seth Meyers. In the 2023 Netflix series Unstable, he had his most recent appearance as Leslie.
As Spike, Sebastian Maniscalco
Spike was the former Wrecking Crew boss of Mario and Luigi. When the brothers quit the company to launch their own venture, he is irate with them.
Maniscalco has achieved success in both acting and stand-up comedy. Sebastian Live, What’s Wrong With People?, Stay Hungry, and Is It Me? are just a few of the six stand-up specials he has starred in. His film credentials also include supporting appearances in Spinning Gold, The Irishman, and Green Book. In addition to starring in the forthcoming HBO Max comedy series How to Be a Bookie, Maniscalco co-wrote the screenplay for the upcoming comedy feature About My Father.
Charles Martinet as Giuseppe, the father of Mario and Luigi
The Super Mario Bros. Movie features two roles played by Martinet. He provides a voice to Giuseppe, a citizen of Brooklyn, and the father of Mario and Luigi. Martinet adopts the same accent as the brothers do in the games when he speaks as Giuseppe.
Since 1991, the actor has been most recognized for his voice work on Mario and Luigi in the Super Mario video game series. In addition, he provided the voice of Magenta in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2021) and Parthurnaax in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011).
Kevin As Kamek, Michael Richardson
Bowser uses the Koopa sorcerer Kamek as an advisor and informant when he attempts to take over the Mushroom Kingdom.
Richardson has provided voice acting for a number of animated movies, such as The Matrix Revolutions, Lilo & Stitch, Mortal Kombat, and Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge. The actor has collaborated with Seth MacFarlane on numerous television projects, such as Family Guy, The Cleveland Show, and American Dad! Additionally, he has provided the voice of other characters on The Simpsons. For his work as the voice of the Joker in Cartoon Network’s The Batman from 2004 to 2008, Richard won two nominations for Daytime Emmy Awards and was praised by critics for his voice acting.
