Chris Pratt Cast As Mario In New Nintendo Film, But Fans Aren’t Happy

Nintendo surprised the world on Wednesday 22 September after announcing they’d be hosting a Nintendo Direct just a day later, delivering a whole host of new game announcements and trailers.

But one of Thursday’s announcements in particular fans didn’t see coming, and it’s safe to say there’s been some… mixed reviews.

Around 30 minutes into the showcase, an animated Super Mario film was announced, showcasing actor Chris Pratt as the title character himself, alongside Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Bowser, Charlie Day as Luigi, Seth Rogan as Donkey Kong, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad.

The film itself, which has yet to receive an official title, has been given a release date of December 21, 2022 - but not all fans are happy with the casting choices, with many calling out Nintendo for choosing Chris Pratt in particular for the role of Mario. 

One user wrote: “Chris Pratt as Mario made me die laughing for three minutes straight”, while another commented: “Chris Pratt as Mario is the worst news I’ve heard all year.”

The mixed reviews didn’t stop there, with many people begging to ‘stop putting Chris Pratt in shows and films’.

Not all the responses to the cast list were negative, however, with many pleased that the Guardians of the Galaxy star would be taking on the role of the ever-loved plumber, saying his ‘comedic genius’ would be perfect for the role.

As the next year rolls in, it’s likely we’ll hear more about the upcoming film and hopefully trailers may be enough to convince some of those who have doubts.

After all, the Super Mario series as a whole is VERY loved by the Nintendo community, so the actors on board will have a lot to live up to if they plan to do the beloved characters justice.