Original Super Mario Bros. film star John Leguizamo opens up about the creators' original dark vision, and Disney's response.
Per Entertainment Weekly, Leguizamo, who portrayed Luigi opposite Bob Hoskins' Mario in 1993's much-maligned live-action adaptation of the iconic Nintendo franchise, discussed filmmakers Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel's initial take on the film. "They were the biggest commercial directors of the era. They had this dark, dark vision that Disney was not okay with, so there was all this [head-butting] that was incredible," Leguizamo said. "That party scene? Those are all strippers from North Carolina that they put on the set that they had in the most revealing clothes and costumes. Disney was not happy. They had to cut a lot of it out, blow it out, CGI it, whatever bad technology they had back in the day." The film was produced by Disney's then-domestic distribution arm, Buena Vista.
Leguizamo, who has been vocally opposed to the latest Super Mario Bros. Movie for its lack of diversity in its cast, stated in April that he would not support the film. The actor had expressed his disappointment in the cast since Illumination announced Chris Pratt and Charlie Day as Mario and Luigi, recalling his own casting in the 1993 movie. Leguizamo reiterated, "Like I was groundbreaking and then they stopped the groundbreaking. They messed up the inclusion. They dis-included. Just cast some Latin folk! We're 20% of the population. The largest people of color group and we are underrepresented."
Super Mario Bros. Animated Film Tops the Box Office
The Super Mario Bros. Movie opened at the box office on April 5, setting a record as the "biggest one-day [box office] gross for [any] movie" so far in 2023 with a $55 million take on its first night in theaters. The film stars Chris Pratt as the titular plumber turned unlikely hero alongside Charlie Day as Luigi, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, and Jack Black as the franchise's famous main antagonist Bowser.
Will Super Mario Bros. Have a Sequel?
Following Meledandri's statements, Black offered his pitch for a potential sequel, although not necessarily one involving his Bowser making any sort of comeback. "It's not a given that Bowser will return," Black explained. "You know, I did a few Kung Fu Panda movies, and it was a different villain every movie. They may do the same thing... You know, what if there is a more powerful, more evil villain? Then I may need to be turned to help Mario and the rest to defend our universe against some other unseen force of evil. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Wario. Pedro Pascal is Wario."
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is in theaters now.
Source: Entertainment Weekly