Super Mario Bros

Super Mario Bros is an upcoming computer-animated film to be produced by Illumination in association with Nintendo, with distribution by Universal Pictures. It is the third feature film adaptation of Nintendo's Mario video game series, following the 1986 Japanese-only anime filmSuper Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! and the 1993 live-action filmSuper Mario Bros. The film is being directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic from a screenplay by Matthew Fogel and features an ensemble voice cast including Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, Fred Armisen, Kevin Michael Richardson, Sebastian Maniscalco, and Charles Martinet.

After the critical and commercial failure of the 1993 film, Nintendo was reluctant to license its intellectual properties for film adaptations. Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto became interested in developing another Mario film when Nintendo was bringing its older games to the Virtual Consoleservice, and through Nintendo's work with Universal Parks & Resorts to create Mario-based attractions he met Illumination founder Chris Meledandri. By 2016, the two were discussing a Mario film, and in January 2018 Nintendo announced that it would collaborate with Illumination and Universal to produce it. Production was underway by 2020.

The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on December 21, 2022.

Voice Cast

 * Chris Pratt as Mario/Super Star Mario
 * Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach
 * Charlie Day as Luigi
 * Jack Black as Bowser (aka King Koopa)
 * Keegan Micheal Richardson as Toad
 * Seth Rogan as Donkey Kong
 * Eric Bauza as Diddy Kong
 * Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong
 * Isla Fisher as Dixie Kong
 * Khary Payton as Funky Kong
 * Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek
 * Sebastian Maniscalco as Foreman Spike
 * Charles Martinet, who voices Mario and various other characters in the franchise, will also appear in "surprise cameos."

Development


After the critical and commercial failure of the 1993 Super Mario Bros. film adaptation, Japanese video game company Nintendo became wary of licensing its properties for film adaptations. According to Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, the idea for a new Mario film came from bringing their older games to the Virtual Console and other services; such transitions took time for the company, and Miyamoto recognized that "our content business would be able to develop even further if we were able to combine our long-beloved software with that of video assets, and utilize them together for extended periods." Miyamoto knew that the process of making a film was far different from that of making a video game, and wanted a film expert to lead the effort.

Following the November 2014 hack of Sony Pictures, emails between producer Avi Arad, studio chief Amy Pascal, TriStar Pictures head Tom Rothman, and Sony Pictures Animation president of production Michelle Raimo Kouyate were released revealing that Sony had been attempting to secure the film rights to the Mario franchise for several years. Arad visited Nintendo in Tokyo in February and July 2014 in an attempt to secure a deal. In October, Arad emailed Pascal and said he had closed the deal with Nintendo. Pascal suggested recruiting Hotel Transylvania director Genndy Tartakovsky to help develop the project, while Kouyate said she could "think of 3–4 movies right out of the gate" and expressed hope in "build[ing] a Mario empire." However, after the emails leaked, Arad denied that a deal had been made, stating that negotiations had only begun. BuzzFeed News noted that the emails did not take into account potential conflicts with Sony Pictures' corporate sibling Sony Interactive Entertainment, one of Nintendo's chief competitors. Through Nintendo's work with Universal Parks & Resorts to create Mario-based attractions, Miyamoto met Chris Meledandri, founder of Universal Pictures' Illumination animation division. Miyamoto found Meledandri's creative process similar to his own, and felt he would be the proper lead for a Mario film. They had started more earnest discussions by 2016, knowing that if they felt it would not work that they could easily walk away. In November 2017, reports emerged that Nintendo was collaborating with Universal and Illumination to make an animated Mario film. Then-Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima clarified that a deal had not been finalized, but that an announcement would come soon. Kimishima hoped that if the deal was successful, a 2020 release date would be possible. In January 2018, Nintendo announced that the film would progress with Miyamoto and Meledandri co-producing. Meledandri said the film was a "priority" for Illumination and that it will most likely come out in 2022. He added that Miyamoto would be "front and center" during production. In January 2020, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa stated that the film was "moving along smoothly" with an expected 2022 release date. Furukawa also said Nintendo would own the rights to the film, and both Nintendo and Universal would fund the production. In August 2021, it emerged that Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic were directing the film after the discovery of an Illumination animator's LinkedIn profile that included the film in their list. Following the full casting announcement, Horvath and Jelenic were confirmed to be directing, with Matthew Fogel attached as the screenwriter.

Casting
In February 2021, Mario voice actor Charles Martinet said the possibility of reprising his role in the film would be a "marvelous thing" and that if he were asked to voice Mario, "I'll go in and play with great joy and happiness." In August 2021, Sebastian Maniscalco revealed he was voicing Spike, Mario and Luigi's boss from the game Wrecking Crew (1985). During a September 2021 Nintendo Direct presentation, Shigeru Miyamoto announced that Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, Kevin Michael Richardson, Fred Armisen, and Maniscalco would headline the voice cast, and that Martinet would be featured in "surprise cameos." This announcement was met with a mixed reaction from longtime fans: while some welcomed the idea of celebrity actors voicing the characters, others were highly critical of the choices, in particular Pratt as Mario instead of Martinet (who has voiced the character since 1992) or an Italian actor.

Animation
The film is being animated by Illumination Mac Guff, which has animated many of Illumination's previous films, in Paris, France. Production was underway by September 2020.

Release
The film is currently scheduled to be released in the United States on December 21, 2022, by Universal Pictures, and will be available to stream on Peacock 45 days afterwards.

Future
In May 2021, Furukawa said that Nintendo was interested in producing more animated films based on its IP if the Mario film is successful. The following November, reports emerged that Illumination was developing a Donkey Kong spin-off film, with Rogen set to reprise his role.