Super Mario is super late for its theatrical release

2022 and Nintendo are not particularly good bedfellows. After the postponement of the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild a few weeks ago, it’s the turn of the animated film Super Mario to be pushed back to 2023.

Originally, Mario and his friends were to make the hour arrive in dark rooms around the world on Christmas 2022. This date is now ancient history since the film will finally arrive in the spring of 2023, and more precisely on April 5, 2023 in France as announced by the Illumination studio behind Me, Despicable Me and minions.

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— Enlightenment (@enlightenment) April 26, 2022

A common agreement

According to a tweet posted on the official Nintendo account and written by Miyamoto himself, this decision seems to have been taken by both Nintendo and the French animation studio:

“Miyamoto here. After talking with Chris-san, my partner at Illumination working on the Super Mario Bros. movie, we’ve decided to shift the movie’s global release to Spring 2023—April 28 in Japan and April 7 in North America. My deepest apologies, but I promise the wait will be worth it.”

This is Miyamoto. After consulting with Chris-san, my partner at Illumination on the Super Mario Bros. film, we decided to move the global release to Spring 2023–April 28 in Japan and April 7 in North America. My deepest apologies but I promise it will be well worth the wait.

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 26, 2022

A Hollywood movie

One thing is certain, this film promises a particular approach to the Mushroom Kingdom and its inhabitants. In effect, the official voice of MarioCharles Martinet, will not reprise the role of the plumber in the film, but will only show up in reference to his original role. It is an entire cast of Hollywood stars who will lend their voices to Nintendo’s cult heroes.

With some surprising choices like Chris Pratt (Star-Lord at Marvel) who will play the role of Mario (whose producer praises his talent), other casting decisions such as Jack Black (rock academy) as Bowser or Anya Taylor Joy (The Queen’s Game) in the role of Peach promise a reinterpretation of these characters for the less original.

Nintendo’s biggest projects will therefore arrive next year, which promises a start to the year 2023 with great fanfare for fans of Zelda and Mario.