This spring, THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE will take audiences around the world to the colorful, dangerous, and fantastical Mushroom Kingdom as the uber-popular video game franchise is brought to the big screen for the first time in 30 years. The movie, which is among our most anticipated films of 2023 and will see Chris Pratt taking on the role of the legendary plumber, is also set to bring with it some of the most iconic Super Mario Bros. characters, both good and evil.
Mario, who is undoubtedly the most recognizable video game character of all time, has been around for more than 40 years now, going from a plumber trying to rescue his girlfriend from Donkey Kong in the 1981 arcade game of the same name to the main star of movies, shows, and countless games in every console generation since the 1980s. But what about other characters like Luigi, Princess Peach, and the monstrous Bowser? Well, funny you ask…
Luigi
Luigi, who was first introduced as Mario’s slightly younger fraternal twin brother in the 1983 Nintendo Game & Watch handheld game “Mario Bros.” in 1983, has been seen alongside the iconic character for pretty much all of his adventures over the years, as well as his own. The slightly taller Mario brother with his green shirt led games like “Luigi’s Hammer Toss” and “Mario Is Missing” throughout the 1990s, but would come into his own with the “Luigi’s Mansion” franchise, which started in 2001 on the Nintendo GameCub.
Although he only briefly appeared in the trailer for THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE, Luigi will surely play a big role in the upcoming animated movie from Nintendo and Illumination, which will see him being voiced by “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” co-creator and star Charlie Day. The character was previously played by John Leguizamo in the 1993 live-action SUPER MARIO BROS. movie.
Princess Peach
Princess Peach, or Princess Toadstool, has been around ever since the debut of “Super Mario Bros.” in 1985, in which she is in need of rescue after being captured by Bowser. Over the years, however, Peach has pivoted from a “damsel in distress” to one of the property’s strongest characters, including “Super Mario Bros. 2.” Since then, Peach has been a major player in most of the Mario games, including party titles like “Mario Party,” “Mario Tennis,” and countless others.
Voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy in THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE, Peach looks to be portrayed as more of a hero than a princess in need of rescue, and it seems like she’ll be the one saving Mario, or at least teaching him a thing or two about the Mushroom Kingdom.
Toad
Just like Princess Peach, Toad has been around since his inclusion in “Super Mario Bros.” in 1985, in which he was introduced as one of the princess’ most loyal assistants in the Mushroom Kingdom. Since then, he has grown into one of the franchise’s most iconic characters, even if appearing to say “Our Princess is in another castle” or making you play memory matching games is incredibly annoying. This isn’t to say Toad hasn’t been a playable character over the years, as the little guy with a mushroom head has gotten into the action in “Super Mario Bros. 2” and a few other titles over the years.
Toad had a minor role in 1993’s SUPER MARIO BROS. movie, in which he was portrayed by Mojo Nixon, but it looks like the character voiced by Keegan Michael-Key will have a much bigger role when it comes to saving the Mushroom Kingdom in THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE this spring.
Bowser
Bowser, also known as King Koopa, has tried to bring down the Mushroom Kingdom since being introduced in “Super Mario Bros.” back in 1985, but that little plumber keeps getting in his way. The leader of the Koopa Troopa, Bowser has become one of the most well-known villains in the video game world, as well as pop culture in general. One of those big bad guys you just love to hate, the ferocious turtle-like creature has even become a playable character in titles like “Mario Kart,” “Mario Party,” and all other sorts of party games set in the game’s universe.
While Jack Black will be voicing Bowser when THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE opens in theatres, he won’t be the first big-time actor to bring the character to life, as the late Dennis Hopper first played King Koopa in the 1993 live-action movie. But it appears this time the movie version of the character will be more in line with his video game counterpart, though it’d be pretty sweet to see Bowser in a suit again.
Donkey Kong
Probably second in line to Mario in terms of popularity for Nintendo fans, the legendary ape has gone from villain to hero of his own video game franchise with the “Donkey Kong Country” Super Nintendo games as well as titles during subsequent console generations. And what would “Mario Kart” be without Donkey Kong throwing bananas and making that god-awful sound whenever he passes you on Rainbow Road only to fall off into the infinite abyss.
None other than Seth Rogen will be portraying Donkey Kong in THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE, which should add another dynamic to the iconic ape and his red tie bearing his initials. Who knows, maybe we’ll hear Rogen’s signature laugh from DK this spring.
Kamek
And then there is Kamek, the magikoopa who has been serving Bowser and serving as one of his most trusted allies since “Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island” in 1995. Though not as well-known as the Marios, Luigis, and Princess Peaches of the Mushroom Kingdom, longtime fans of the franchise have grown to know and despise the character who has a terrible habit of showing up in the late stages of “Mario Party” to make a mess of things and cause chaos.
Kamek is briefly seen in the trailer for THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE, in which he is voiced by legendary voice actor Kevin Michael Richardson. Only time will tell what kind of magic and mayhem he’ll bring to the Mushroom Kingdom.
THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE opens April 7th at AMC Theatres locations nationwide, bringing these characters, and others like them, to life like never before.
THE SUPER MARIO BROS. opens in theaters on April 7th
