Video game movies are notoriously bad, but in recent years that perception has been changing. Thanks to successes likeDetective Pikachuor even theSonic the Hedgehogmovie, more and more video games are being adapted as movies, both live action and animated.Super Mariois another iconic video game franchise that is making its way to the silver screen sometime soon, but details about the project are still very scarce. Illumination, best known for its work on theDespicable Mefranchise, is leading the charge, but beyond that little is known about casting, story, or even release date.
For the most part, fans seem excited about thisSuper Mariomovie, as Illumination has done great work in the past. What’s more, recent successful video game movies are giving fans hope that these properties can make their way to the big screen and be successful, so all eyes are on Illumination to carry that hope and make it reality.
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Regarding casting, Charles Martinet, the voice actor for Mario, claims he has not been contacted about voicing the character in the upcoming movie. In the same interview, he claimed that he would love to do the part if Nintendo reached out to him, but that this hasn’t happened yet. Martinet has been the voice of Mario in nearlyevery major release sinceSuper Mario 64, so it would be strange for Nintendo to choose someone else for the upcoming movie. Voice acting is a huge part of making video game movies feel authentic, and since this one will be animated, there’s no reason not to bring Martinet in.
That said, it wouldn’t be the first time something like this has happened. Most recently, Sonic was voiced by Ben Schwartz in theSonic The Hedgehogmovie despite Roger Craig Smith being the active voice actor for the character at the time.Sonic’s voice actor recently stepped down from the role, so that could have something to do with this decision, but it is still unclear whether or not Schwartz will make a return to continue voicing Sonic in other forms of media. By contrast, Martinet has actively voiced a desire to play the character again.
More likely than not,theSuper Mariomovie is still a ways out. It could well be that voice acting simply isn’t on the to do list just yet and that Martinet will get a call later, but that’s not guaranteed. Fans should definitely prepare for the reality that another voice may bring Mario to life on the big screen this time. If that is the case, that voice actor has some big shoes to fill.
TheSuper Mariomovie is currently in production and slated for release some time in 2022.
