Does Chris Pratt have what it takes to rescue Princess Peach and save the Mushroom Kingdom? Nintendo seems to think so. Last Thursday, Nintendo announced the cast for its upcoming Super Mario Bros movie with some familiar Hollywood names landing the roles.
The Italian plumber protagonist will be voiced by Chris Pratt, his brotherly sidekick Luigi voiced by Charlie Day, and damsel in distress Peach voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy. Jack Black will be tasked with playing the voice of the antagonist Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key with the voice of Toad, and Seth Rogan with the voice of Donkey Kong.
Many fans took to social media to question and express their surprise over the role choices, particularly the choice for Mario. However, Nintendo game director Shigeru Miyamoto is satisfied with the decision, stating in a live stream he thinks Pratt is “so cool” and “very talented.”
Why it matters
Nintendo's origins go all the way back to 1889 when it was founded in Kyoto, Japan as a producer of playing cards. In the 1970s, the company transitioned to making video game consoles. Today, the company brings in more than $16b in revenue and is traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange as well as the US over-the-counter market under the ticker symbol NTDOY.
