Chris Pratt Addresses Fans Concerns After Receiving Backlash For His Role In 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie'

The news of Chris Pratt's casting as the iconic Italian plumber, Mario, in the upcoming "Super Mario Bros. Movie" was met with a wave of backlash from fans.

Responding to the criticism, Pratt acknowledged the concerns of fans worried about the possibility of the film not meeting their expectations, saying he "gets it."

The show's producer, Chris Meledandri, also reassured fans of Pratt's performance despite him not being of Italian descent. Meanwhile, Actor John Leguizamo, who played Luigi in the 1993 live-action film "Super Mario Bros." described the casting as "unfortunate."

Keep on reading to learn more.

In a recent interview with Gizmodo, Chris Pratt spoke out about the backlash he received from fans after being cast as the voice of Mario in the upcoming animated "The Super Mario Bros. Movie."

The "Guardians of the Galaxy" actor addressed the concerns of longtime fans of the Nintendo video game franchise, stating that he completely understands where they are coming from. "Oh, I get it, man," he said.

Pratt expressed his gratitude to the passionate fan base, stating that he also enjoys the beloved video game character. He acknowledged that people are understandably protective of the franchise as it holds such a special place in their hearts, stating, "Mostly, people don't want something like this to get screwed up."

During the same interview, Charlie Day, who will voice the character of Luigi in the upcoming animated film, also shared his thoughts on fans' concerns regarding the film's interpretation of the iconic video game franchise.

Day expressed that he understands why fans "don't want the franchise messed up at all" as the game has "taken care of people."

He noted that "Super Mario Bros." has served as an escape for many, saying, "I think 'Super Mario Bros.,' really when you think about what a video game does for people, it is a place to escape to."

He continued, per Insider, "So people would go, after maybe having a tough day at school or in your work life, whatever it is, you put on 'Super Mario Bros.,' you play for an hour, and you just disappear into that land and that world." In addition, Day expressed confidence in the upcoming movie, saying fans will "be pleased when they see the movie two, three, maybe four times in the theater."

The animated film will hit the theaters on April 5 and stars Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Bowser, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, and Keegan-Michael Key as Toad.

In response to the criticism surrounding Pratt's accurate portrayal of Mario due to his lack of Italian ethnicity, producer Chris Meledandri affirmed his confidence in the actor's performance.

Addressing the issue during the CineEurope convention, Meledandri told Deadline, "When people hear Chris Pratt's performance, the criticism will evaporate, maybe not entirely — people love to voice opinions, as they should."

Meledandri acknowledged the criticism, saying, "I'm not sure this is the smartest defense, but as a person with Italian-American heritage, I feel I can make that decision without worrying about offending Italians or Italian-Americans." 

"I think we're going to be just fine," he added.

However, John Leguizamo, who played Luigi in the 1993 live-action film "Super Mario Bros." alongside Bob Hoskins as Mario, expressed his disappointment with the decision to cast two white actors to voice the notable video game characters.

Describing the situation as "unfortunate," Leguizamo recalled his experience as a Latin actor fighting for a leading role in the 1993 film. While speaking with IndieWire, he expressed frustration by saying, "The directors Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton fought hard for me to lead because I was a Latin man, and they [the studio] didn't want me to be the lead."

He added, per Insider, "They fought hard, and it was such a breakthrough. For them to go backward and not cast another [actor of color] sucks."