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Topics: Film and TV, Super Mario, Seth Rogen, Celebrity
Ella Scott
Topics: Film and TV, Super Mario, Seth Rogen, Celebrity
The former voice of Luigi, John Leguizamo, has said he'll be boycotting the new Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Chris Pratt and Charlie Day have landed the leading voice roles of Mario and brother Luigi in the new Super Mario Bros Movie.
The film, which was released on Wednesday 5 April, is expected to generate an excess of $225 million at the box office in its opening week.
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However, Leguizamo, 62, has confirmed that he will not be one of the viewers heading to cinemas this Easter to see the film.
Speaking to TMZ on the day of the film’s theatrical release, Leguizamo said: “No I will not [be watching]. They could’ve included a Latin character.
“Like I was was groundbreaking and then they stopped the groundbreaking.
"They messed up the inclusion. They dis-included.”
He questioned why 'Latin folk' weren’t cast, adding: “We’re 20 percent of the population. The largest people of colour group and we are underrepresented.”
Leguizamo first brought Luigi to life in a live-action Super Mario Bros movie in 1993.
He acted alongside Bob Hoskins, who voiced brother and protagonist Mario. The supporting cast for the movie included Samantha Mathis and Dennis Hopper.
At the time, it was the first-ever theatrical release of a live-action movie based on a video game in the US. We've had a couple more since then, huh?
This isn't the first time Leguizamo has spoken out against the Super Mario reboot.
In 2021, he slammed the film via Twitter. And speaking to IndieWire in November 2022, Leguizamo doubled down and said: “The Super Mario Bros. Movie is 'backwards' for having two white actors voice Mario and Luigi.
“I did Comic-Con in New York and in Baltimore, and everyone’s like, ‘No, no, we love the old one, the original.’
"They’re not feeling the new one. I’m not bitter. It’s unfortunate.”
For the Nineties Mario, Leguizamo said movie directors Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton, 'fought really hard' for him to star as Mr. Lime-Green - even though the studio 'didn't want' him to be the lead.
He said: "It was such a breakthrough. For them to go backwards and not cast another [actor of color in the 2023 film] kind of sucks."
While Leguizamo and co. have been omitted from the new Super Marios Bros. Movie, you can still expect to hear some famous voices acting in the film.
Beloved Nintendo characters Princess Peach and Toad are being voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy and Keegan-Michael Key, respectively.
Seth Rogan is the voice of Donkey Kong, while Jack Black plays the main antagonist Bowser.
It should be mentioned that Taylor-Joy is of Argentinian descent and actually lived in Argentina for several years as a child.
However, it looks as if Leguizamo’s comments relate directly to the two main plumbers, Mario and Luigi.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is in cinemas now.