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“It’s me, mar-CHRIS PRATT”

By Shelbie Ritnour, Staff Writer

Nintendo announced plans for a new animated Super Mario Bros. movie to be released in 2022 on Sept. 23. Illumination Entertainment, the animation studio famous for creating movies such as “Minions” ,“The Lorax” and “Sing” will be producing the film.

 Members of the star-studded cast include Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, Charlie Day, Seth Rogan, Keegan-Michael Key, Fred Armisen, Kevin Michael Richardson and Sebastian Maniscalo. 

An official plot synopsis has not yet been released. However, 

“[The film] will be a very collaborative project between Illumination and Nintendo,”Shigeru Miyamoto, the original creator of Mario and video game designer at Nintendo, said.

 This has led many to speculate that the movie will be more successful and loyal to the original game ideas than the 1993 live action Mario movie. 

The 1993 live action Mario movie was unsuccessful in profiting, and was not faithful to the plot or idea of the video game. It is often referred to inside the industry as a flop. After the movie was released and chastised by critics and fans alike, Nintendo didn’t involve itself in making movies for the next 25 years.

Immediately after the announcement of the film,  social media blew up with memes about the new movie. Especially those making fun of the actor voicing Mario, Chris Pratt. A particular theme being Pratt’s accusations of homophobia. 

While Pratt has vehemently denied allegations of homophobia, skeptics cite his belonging to Hillsong, an infamously controversial church. As well as his following of “right-wing extremists and homophobes” on Twitter, including Turning Points USA, a right wing, conservative organization often referred to as an anti-LGBTQ hate group. 

Fans also criticized not casting Charles Martinet, the original voice actor for Mario. 

“And ‘Surprise Cameos from Charles Martinet’?! Wow this legend deserved better,” 

 one Twitter user wrote. 

Memes about the casting choices have circulated, but are generally light-hearted. Every other main character was otherwise well received. 

Students also have comments about the casting.

“The cast seems like it doesn’t fit,” junior speech and language pathology major Kenia Diaz said.

Freshman English education major Stephanie Hatem agrees with Diaz. 

”The cast is definitely interesting, but I’m not sure all of the actors will match the voices well,” Hatem said.

On the other hand, sophomore musical theatre major Lainee Jentz is looking forward to seeing Pratt as Mario. 

“I honestly love Chris Pratt … I think he would’ve been better in his Andy Dwyer days … Wait, maybe they should’ve gone with someone Italian,” Jentz said.

All three students had similar ideas about what the plot would be like.

“It’ll be the same plot as the games itself. Saving Princess Peach or something or something with her getting kidnapped,” Diaz said.

“Mario trying to save Peach from Bowser. I think it might be a bit cheesy,” Hatem said.

Student overall thoughts on the Super Mario Bros. announcement.

“I have a bad feeling that it’ll end up like the Sonic movie, everyone hated it so much that they redesigned it. And it still got bad reviews,” Hatem said.

Jentz agrees with Hatem.

“I think it could be good, it could also be bad, I don’t know. If it’s like “Wreck-it Ralph”, it’ll be great … Video game movies, I feel like, are hard,” said Jentz.

Overall students seem hopeful, but extremely skeptical of the movie.

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