Chris Pratt is Mario and Jack Black is Bowser in the Super Mario Bros Movie Cast

Shigeru Miyamoto strolled onto the Nintendo Direct Today and casually announced the cast of Illumination Entertainment’s upcoming Super Mario Movie.

And here’s the Super Mario Movie cast:

• Mario – Chris Pratt
• Luigi – Charlie Day
• Princess Peach – Anya Taylor-Joy
• Bowser – Jack Black
• Toad – Keegan-Michael Key
• Donkey Kong – Seth Rogan
• Kamek – Michael Richardson
• Cranky Kong – Fred Armisen
• Foreman Spike – Sebastian Maniscalco

It’s also been reported that Charles Martinet, the voice of Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi in the video games will be in the project in the form of cameo roles. I didn’t expect that they would cast him as the Mario Bros so I think it’s nice that they acknowledge his contribution to the franchise in some way.

It does make you wonder though, will Chris Pratt and Charlie Day voice Mario and Luigi with Italian accents? They probably won’t but that would certainly make or break the film.

It’s certainly quite the all-star cast all things considered. Mario’s creator Shigeru Miyamoto will be co-producing the movie alongside Illumination Studio founder Chris Meledandri who said this to Variety shortly after the Direct:

Mario and Luigi are two of the most beloved heroes in all of popular culture, and we are honored to have the unique opportunity to work so closely with Shigeru Miyamoto and the widely imaginative team at Nintendo to bring these characters to life in an animated movie, unlike any film Illumination has made to date

The movie is being directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic. The two had previously collaborated on the animated series Teen Titans Go! and the film Teen Titans Go! To the Movies. The script is from Matthew Fogel, who previously wrote The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.

The Super Mario Movie will be in cinemas in 2022.

Speaking of Mario, there’s a local Lego Mario contest running in Malaysia, if you dare to enter!