A popular fan theory for the upcoming The Super Mario Bros. Movie speculated that actor Chris Pratt was cast as the iconic plumber as part of a clever metanarrative storyline.
According to Inverse, Reddit user c00olsoc0001 posted their theory regarding the reasoning behind Pratt's role as Mario, which fans believed was the most bizarre casting choice for the film adaptation. The theory claimed Pratt was not actually portraying the real Mario and was instead voicing a unique character. It hypothesized that Pratt's character will start as a regular, live-action figure who was accidentally transported into one of the several beloved Super Mario titles, wherein they were somehow transformed into the beloved plumber. c00olsoc0001 believed Pratt's character would spend the movie attempting to adapt to the Mushroom Kingdom, before subsequently meeting the real Mario -- who would reportedly be portrayed by veteran voice actor Charles Martinet -- during the movie's conclusion.
c00olsoc0001 revealed they based their speculation on the previous trailers for The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The Reddit user noted how Mario appeared bewildered and confused with his surroundings, while Toadstool already seemed familiar with the plumber. They also believed that the second trailer may similarly indicate that Pratt's character was not the real Mario, being that the trailer showcased him struggling against several platforming challenges.
Chris Pratt as Mario
While longtime fans of the franchise rejoiced with the announcement of an animated film adaptation of Nintendo's long-running Super Mario video game series, the choice to cast Pratt as the movie's lead earned backlash from many who believed the actor was not a good fit for the role of Mario. Fans only grew concerned when the first trailer for the movie adaptation premiered and showcased a glimpse of Pratt's take on the character, with audiences criticizing Pratt for his lackluster performance as the titular plumber. Others went so far as to petition animation studio Illumination to completely replace Pratt with Martinet, who has provided the voice for Mario in video games since 1992.
Co-star Khary Payton, who voiced King Penguin, previously defended Pratt's performance as Mario. "People always overreact online," the actor said. "I actually think that he's doing kind of like this New York, Italian guy -- like a cousin of The Sopranos or something, which I think is kind of a fun take on it rather than being 'It's-a me, a-Mario.'"
The Super Mario Bros. Movie jumps into theaters on April 7.
Source: Reddit, via Inverse