When the first teaser for The Super Mario Bros. Movie dropped, the internet didn't just break; it imploded. Specifically, it imploded around the sounds coming out of a certain mustachioed plumber's mouth. People were ready to riot. They wanted the high-pitched, "Wahoo!" energy of the games, but they got Chris Pratt.
Honestly, the drama was a bit much. Now that we’ve lived with the movie for a while—and with a sequel titled The Super Mario Galaxy Movie officially slated for April 3, 2026—it’s time to look at the Mario movie voice actors with a bit more nuance. Because, let’s be real, the casting was way more intentional than just "grabbing famous people for the poster."
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Why the Mario Movie Voice Actors Actually Worked
It’s easy to look at a list of A-listers and scream "celebrity casting!" but Illumination and Nintendo were playing a different game. They needed voices that could carry a 90-minute narrative.
Think about it. If you had to listen to Charles Martinet’s iconic, squeaky game voice for an hour and a half of dialogue, your ears would probably start bleeding by the second act. It’s perfect for "It’s-a me!" but maybe not for a heart-to-heart with Luigi in a Brooklyn apartment.
Chris Pratt as Mario
Pratt took the most heat. People called him "just Chris Pratt" and "non-Italian." But here's the thing: his version of Mario was meant to be an underdog. He used a subtle Brooklyn rasp that felt grounded. He wasn't trying to be a cartoon; he was trying to be a guy from Queens who just happened to fall through a green pipe. It was a "Normal Little Guy" take, and surprisingly, it grounded the movie’s more absurd moments.
Jack Black’s Bowser: The MVP
Can we talk about "Peaches"? Jack Black didn't just voice Bowser; he became the King of the Koopas. Initially, he was actually resistant to singing in the movie. He wanted to keep his music (Tenacious D style) separate from his acting. Thankfully, the directors, Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, convinced him to put his own spin on a demo they had.
The result? A Billboard Hot 100 hit. Black’s performance brought a weird, obsessive, lonely-guy energy to a monster, making Bowser the most layered character in the whole film. He gave 110%, which is basically the Jack Black brand.
The Core Voice Cast Breakdown
To understand why this ensemble worked, you have to look at the specific flavors each actor brought to the table. It wasn't just about the names; it was about the vibe.
- Anya Taylor-Joy (Princess Peach): She didn't play a damsel. This Peach was a leader. Taylor-Joy’s voice has this natural "refined but tough" quality. Fans were worried she’d sound too much like her Queen’s Gambit character, but she brought a modern, proactive energy that redefined Peach for a new generation.
- Charlie Day (Luigi): Perfect casting. Period. Day has built a career on sounding perpetually anxious. His frantic, high-strung delivery is exactly what Luigi needed. If anyone was born to scream "Marioooo!" in a dark forest, it’s the guy from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
- Keegan-Michael Key (Toad): This was a total transformation. Key pushed his voice into a much higher register than his natural speaking tone. He even improvised a song! He turned Toad from a generic NPC into a loquacious, slightly unhinged adventurer.
- Seth Rogen (Donkey Kong): Rogen basically said, "I'm gonna sound like me, and that's it." And you know what? It worked. His iconic laugh fit the arrogant, meathead version of DK perfectly. It felt like a live-action take on a cartoon gorilla.
The Charles Martinet Cameos
One of the classiest moves Nintendo made was involving Charles Martinet, the original voice of Mario since 1991. He didn't play the lead, but his presence was felt. He voiced Giuseppe—the guy in the Punch-Out Bar who looks like the original arcade Mario—and, more importantly, Mario’s Dad.
Martinet actually revealed later that the voice he used for Papa Mario was the "tough guy Italian" accent he specifically avoided using for Mario back in the early 90s because he didn't want to sound too aggressive to children. Using it for the father was a poetic "full circle" moment. It was a passing of the torch that felt earned.
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What’s Next for the Sequel?
With The Super Mario Galaxy Movie coming in 2026, the cast is expanding in a big way. We already know the core group—Pratt, Taylor-Joy, Day, Black, and Key—are all returning. But the "deep cuts" are what have people talking.
Brie Larson is officially joining the cast as Rosalina, which feels like a massive win. Larson has been a vocal fan of Super Mario Galaxy for years, so this is some high-level fan service. Also, Benny Safdie (yes, the director of Uncut Gems) is set to voice Bowser Jr. That is a wild, inspired choice that suggests the sequel might lean even harder into the weird, family-dynamic humor that made the first one a hit.
Lesser-Known Voices You Might Have Missed
- Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek: A veteran voice actor who brought a perfect "snivelly sidekick" energy.
- Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong: He played the character as a disappointed, dry-witted grandfather, which was a great foil to Rogen’s DK.
- Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike: A nod to the Wrecking Crew days that only hardcore fans really caught.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of the Mario movie voice actors, there's more to do than just re-watching the film.
- Check out the "Peaches" Behind-the-Scenes: There is a live-action music video directed by Cole Bennett where Jack Black is in a full Bowser-themed suit. It’s a masterclass in committed performance.
- Follow the Sequel News via Nintendo Directs: Most major casting reveals, like the recent Brie Larson announcement, happen during Nintendo’s official broadcasts. Don't rely on rumors; wait for the "Red Screen."
- Listen to the International Dubs: Fun fact—many fans actually prefer the French or Italian dubs of the movie, as those actors often lean closer to the "game" voices. It's a totally different experience.
The casting of the Mario movie proved that "star power" doesn't have to mean "soulless." While the initial backlash was loud, the box office numbers and the genuine heart in the performances showed that Nintendo knew what they were doing. They weren't just making a movie; they were building a cinematic universe, one "Wahoo" at a time.