The time has finally arrived to bring Mario back to the big screen. Nintendo and Illumination have revealed the first teaser trailer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie. This, unlike the ‘90s movie, is an animated adventure that will center on the classic video game character. It hails from the same studio that brought us Despicable Me and The Secret Life of Pets, with an A-list cast led by Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy) as Mario. Let’s have a look. 

 

 

The animation is visually impressive right off the bat. It’s a bit of a non-traditional teaser, with it largely focusing on two scenes. The early part is almost entirely dedicated to Bowser and the Koopas, waging war on the penguins. We get to Mario in the second half, but get very little sense of the plot. Nintendo and Illumination have yet to reveal an official plot synopsis. The trailer debuted as part of a special Nintendo Direct for New York Comic Con. 

 

“We are thrilled to finally share the very first look at The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” said Chris Meledandri, Illumination’s Founder and CEO. “Nintendo’s Mario and Luigi are the most iconic and beloved characters in the gaming universe and it has been an incredible honor to work with Miyamoto-san over the past few years to bring this story to film in a way that is authentic to its roots.” Shigeru Miyamoto, Representative Director, Fellow of Nintendo, had this to add: 

 

“What kind of movie should Super Mario Bros. be?. We have been working for a very long time with Chris of Illumination thinking about this question. We are now able to have everyone get a peek at the film. With not just the story itself, but through the characters’ look, their emotions, various gestures, we have built a Super Mario world using the language of film. Please enjoy the unique Mushroom Kingdom experience spread widely on the theater screen. Also keep an eye out for the characters, and memories from Nintendo games sprinkled in small parts of the screen throughout the film. The release is just around the corner, and we are in the fine tuning phase finalizing all the details, just as we do with a Nintendo game. It is a film for all ages to enjoy, and I ask everyone to please cheer for Mario at the theaters.”

 

Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (Teen Titans Go! To the Movies) direct, working from a screenplay by Matthew Fogel (The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, Minions: The Rise of Gru). The cast includes Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong, Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek and Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike.

 

The Super Mario Bros. Movie hits theaters on April 7, 2023. 

 

What do you think? Do you dig the trailer? Are you excited to see the movie? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!