The Super Mario Bros Movie Teaser Is Here

 

Video game movies have a notorious reputation. Time and time again, Hollywood has failed to capture what made the games special in the first place. This goes all the way back to 1993's Super Mario Bros, the first major game adaptation. Nintendo were so burned by what Hollywood did to their flagship franchise, they refused to sell their rights for nearly 30 years after. It's only now, when we've finally had some half decent adaptations (Detective Pikachu, Sonic The Hedgehog) that they have decided to have another crack. But this time, they would be deeply involved in all aspects of production. First up, Nintendo are teaming up with Illumination on The Super Mario Bros Movie.

The first teaser trailer was unveiled as part of a special edition of Nintendo Direct, that was similultanously broadcast at New York ComicCon. it included contributions from Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, Illumination boss Chris Meledandri and Chris Pratt and Jack Black, who voice Mario and Bowser respectively.

The trailer starts ominously with the arrival of Bowser's ship and an invading force of Koopas. "Behold! The King of the Koopas!" Kamek (Kevin Michael Richardson) announces. Then Bowser make his entrance, looking rather imposing. This opening of the trailer is unexpectedly dramatic. It has a kind of epic sweep that we would normally associate with an Illumination movie- or with Mario for that matter. Still, it's not long before the trailer drops a gag featuring an army of adorable penguins. 

Then we cut to Mario landing (presumably after being ejected by a pipe). It's clear from his reaction that he is new to The Mushroom Kingdom. It seems the movie is sticking with the character's original origin where he's a plumber who is magically transported to the world of the games. He also meets Toad (Keegan-Michael Key), who seems like he is going to be Mario's guide to this strange new world. We only get to hear the briefest bits of Pratt's voicing of Mario, but he seems to be playing it pretty straight. No fake Italian accents here.

Finally, we get a glimpse of Mario's brother Luigi being persued by Dry Bones, in a spooky sequence that could have come straight out of the Luigi's Mansion games.

The Super Mario Bros Movie is directed by  Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, and written by Matthew Fogel. It also stars Charlie Day, Anna Taylor-Joy, Seth Rogan, Fred Armisen and Sebastian Maniscalco. The film will bound into cinemas on April 7, 2023.