While promoting the release of the upcoming Garfield film, Chris Pratt touched on his previous role voicing another iconic character, the princess-saving Brooklyn plumber, Mario.
The 2023 animated Super Mario Bros. Movie was a surprise hit, as it went on to have the biggest worldwide opening ever for an animated film despite unfavorable reviews from critics.
When the smoke cleared, the film amassed $1.362 billion worldwide from a modest production budget of $100 million. Per Deadline Hollywood, the Super Mario Bros. Movie was the most profitable movie of 2023.
A sequel was officially announced on March 10, 2024, as part of Mario Day celebrations. The film was given an April 3, 2026 release date.
Speaking to Total Film, Pratt teased, "I can't tell you much but I can say that there is another Mario movie coming. It gets me very excited thinking about the world of Mario and Nintendo in general, I think over the next decade we will be seeing lots of stories coming out of that world."
"I was thrilled, honored, and blessed to be part of the first one and moving forward I'm open to doing as much and as little as they want from me. I can't say much but I am just as excited as everyone else."
And the box office success of the Super Mario Bros. Movie has led to the notoriously demure Nintendo to entertain films for other IPs including The Legend of Zelda, which has a live-action film in the works from Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes director, Wes Ball.
On those spinoffs, Pratt shared, "We are very excited, it’s a dream come true for me. I grew up playing those games and been a part of those things for a long time - I’ve known Mr. Miyamoto for many years now and I can’t wait."
"That’s all I can really say but I am very aware that people are as anxious as I am to see something on it. I just want to get to work on it, it’s a dream come true."
The Super Mario Bros. Movie Synopsis: Based on the world of Nintendo’s Mario games, the film invites audiences into a vibrant, thrilling new universe unlike any created before in an action-packed, exuberant cinematic comedy event. While working underground to fix a water main, Brooklyn plumbers Mario (Chris Pratt; Jurassic World and The LEGO Movie franchises) and brother Luigi (Charlie Day; It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) are transported down a mysterious pipe and wander into a magical new world.
But when the brothers are separated, Mario embarks on an epic quest to find Luigi. With the assistance of a Mushroom Kingdom resident Toad (Keegan-Michael Key; The Lion King) and some training from the strong-willed ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy;The Queen’s Gambit), Mario taps into his own power."