A new change in the upcoming Super Mario Bros. Movie is being warmly received by fans. Nintendo and Illumination announced the project back in 2018 as the very first animated feature about the iconic character. Starring Chris Pratt, the film also co-stars Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, and Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach. Also in the movie are Fred Armisen, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, and Charles Martinet, the original voice of Mario.With the release of the second Super Mario Bros. Movie trailer, it’s been revealed that, instead of playing the damsel in distress, Taylor-Joy’s version of Princess Peach has been role-reversed and now serves as a leader and action-heroine figure. The character is seen grabbing a halberd and even leading a council to come up with a plan on how to stop Bowser, before seemingly training Mario on a course with familiar obstacles from the games. See fan reactions to the change below:Related: Mario’s Voice Isn’t The Movie’s Biggest Challenge, It’s Donkey Kong’s
The New Princess Peach Is The Best Mario Movie Change
It would have been a waste of Taylor-Joy’s talent if Princess Peach remained a cookie-cutter, damsel-in-distress character, so seeing Princess Peach changed in such a dramatic way for The Super Mario Bros. Movie is exciting. It changes the game and has a chance to reintroduce an inspired, all-new version of the character. With Taylor-Joy’s upcoming Furiosa and line of strong female characters in her filmography, the decision is more aligned with her repertoire.
It’s a welcome change, especially after the disappointing reveal of Pratt’s Mario voice, that hints at the film having a few tricks up its sleeve. With the exciting, albeit short, glimpses of Princess Peach being a much more dynamic character, expectations have been raised as much as they have been subverted. Day’s Luigi, whose casting also appears to be a hit with viewers, seems to have been given the role usually played by Princess Peach – captive of Black’s Bowser as he searches for the titular Mario – so the film is playing around with its outdated tropes.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie trailer is full of reveals, including Luigi’s voice and a glimpse of Rogen’s Donkey Kong. There’s even an appearance of the iconic Rainbow Road, a favorite from the Mario Kart games. But what felt like the most-needed reveal was the role reversal of Princess Peach. It’s a take the movie needed to show after revealing Pratt’s voice for the iconic character, and it’s become the most anticipated dynamic of the upcoming film.
Key Release Dates
The Super Mario Bros Film
Release Date:2023-04-07
