The iconic brothers are back in action in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, starring Chris Pratt and Charlie Day as Mario and Luigi. Also returning for an adventure across space is Anya Taylor-Joy as Peach, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michel Key as Toad, and more. New faces voice beloved characters making their big screen debut including Brie Larson as Rosalina.
The brothers Mario and Luigi are thrown into another mission after settling into their new life in the Mushroom Kingdom, as a mysterious call for help points them into Princess Peach’s mysterious past. This launches the duo off the face of the planet, and into unfamiliar worlds, with familiar friends, new allies, and an unexpected enemy.
Chris Pratt was excited to pull the gloves back on as Mario, fresh from saving his hometown Brooklyn and the Mushroom Kingdom. For Pratt, one of the best qualities Mario possesses is his indomitable spirit. “He is a little guy, but he never gives up,” Pratt says. “He is unstoppable because he believes in himself. He is not boastful; he just shows up for the people he cares about. I love his relationships with his brother, his family and with Peach. No challenge is too big for him, and that is what makes him heroic.”
The focus on the siblings’ relationship was also a strong point for Pratt, having grown up fans of the franchise with his own brother. “My brother and I grew up playing the Super Mario games together,” Pratt says. “The film captures something true about having siblings. You know each other your whole life. You go through everything together. Some relationships are fleeting, but siblings are for life. It means a lot to be able to bring that to the screen. When we were kids, my brother always got to play as Mario. Now I finally get my turn.”
For Charlie Day, contrasting Mario’s head-on attitude with Luigi’s cautious bravery was very appealing to act out. “Luigi has that underdog sensibility,” Day says. “With Mario, you get the classic hero who runs toward danger to save the day. With Luigi, you have the guy who says, ‘I want to save the day, but I also do not want to get hurt,’ and I think that makes him relatable. His innocence is something you root for, because he loves his brother enough to follow him anywhere.”
Day feels a sense of responsibility in handling such an iconic character, who is beloved by fans across the globe, and ones close to Day himself. “I have a son who is fourteen now, and watching this movie, I became emotional remembering how much joy these games gave me as a kid,” Day says. “I would play with my sister and my friends, and we would get lost in this world. Both through the movie and through watching my son discover gaming on his own brings me back to that time. That is the power of this world.”
We’re off once more as The Super Mario Galaxy Movie arrives in Philippine cinemas on Black Saturday, April 4. Tickets available now! Head to your local cinema or visit their website for more details. Check out Universal Pictures PH (FB), UniversalPicturesPH (IG), and UniversalPicsPH (TikTok) for the latest news and updates.
