Chris Pratt is the voice of Mario in “Super Mario Bros.” Cinema and the Internet are not happy

Yesterday’s Nintendo Direct brought news about the upcoming animation Super Mario Bros. film, including release date and voice cast. However, not everyone is happy with who Mario is playing.

Following the Hollywood tradition of casting celebrities in dubbing roles, Guardians of the Galaxy star Chris Pratt will voice the beloved Nintendo icon. Pratt is also known for voicing Emmet The Lego movie. It’s always sunny in PhiladelphiaCharlie Day will give the voice to Mario’s brother Luigi, e The Queen’s Gambit Star Anya Taylor-Joy will play Princess Peach.

Rounding out the voice cast, which is big on star power but short of famous voice actors, is Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong and Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike. Only Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek is primarily known for his vocal work, including animated series The Cleveland Show, The SimpsonsAnd The Batman.

Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto announced the casting of Pratt with great enthusiasm. “He’s so cool,” he said. “Mario will talk a lot in the film”.

In addition to Miyamoto’s praise for Pratt, Nintendo seemed to be trying to overcome any casting disputes in its press release for the film. “Each voice actor was chosen for their ability to capture their character’s unique spirit,” reads Nintendo’s Deadline statement.

But the video game giant is still facing a backlash. Fans have taken to Twitter to express their disappointment with Pratt as Mario, with some arguing that the famous Italian plumber should be played by someone of Italian descent.

“Chris Pratt in the role of Mario is Italiaphobia and I’m tired of acting like he’s not”, one user he wrote.

Others argued that the role should have gone to Charles Martinet, who has voiced Mario in video games since the 1990s. Martinet will play a surprise cameo in the film instead.

“Let Charles Martinet be Mario, nobody wants to see them reinvent Mario to act like Chris Pratt”, voice actor Matt Shipman tweeted.

But perhaps the funniest tweet came from a user who predicted months ago that Hollywood was so out of this world that he would cast Chris Pratt for the role of Mario.

“Hollywood once again not knowing why people like video games [sic] they fit or even what they are, frankly, “Twitter user @_Lizstar_ wrote in February when Martinet revealed that he had not been asked to play Mario in the upcoming film.

“I can’t wait to hear Chris Pratt as Mario,” he joked.

On Thursday, September 23, she replied to her original Twitter thread following the announcement of Pratt’s casting.

“I NEVER WANTED TO USE MY POWERS FOR EVIL.”