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'What a squad': Fans excited as Chris Pratt shares 'coolest' 'Super Mario Bros' photo with Charlie Day, Keegan-Michael Key and Jack Black

Chris Pratt and Charlie Day take on the iconic roles of Mario and Luigi respectively, while Jack Black plays Bowser

UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA: Chris Pratt took to Instagram On March 3 to share a photo of himself, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, and Charlie Day on the set of the 'Kelly Clarkson Show', promoting their upcoming movie 'Super Mario Bros'. The picture has generated a lot of excitement among fans, with many expressing their enthusiasm for the film in the comments section.

One fan commented, "What a squad," while another remarked, "This is one of the coolest pictures ever of all time... Of all the times." The photo has generated significant hype for the upcoming movie, with fans eagerly anticipating its release.

During the cast's appearance on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show' on Thursday, Jack Black inadvertently slipped into his character from the forthcoming movie, causing a hilarious miscommunication with his co-stars. When Clarkson found Black backstage dressed as the villainous Bowser, he refused to go on stage, saying, "I'm not going out there. Everybody said we're going to get dressed in costumes, and I'm the only stupid guy that got dressed in a costume and I'm not going out there now." Black's portrayal of Bowser is one of the many highly anticipated casting choices for the new Super Mario Bros movie, set to be released in April.

'The Super Mario Bros. Movie': Release date and plot details

The highly anticipated movie is scheduled to be released on April 5, 2023, in over 60 markets worldwide, including the US, UK, and China. Viewers in Japan will have to wait until April 28 for the film's release. Pratt and Day take on the iconic roles of Mario and Luigi respectively, while Key plays Toad and Black plays Bowser. Other notable cast members include Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong, Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek, and Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike.

Based on early trailers, the film follows the beloved plumber as he embarks on a mission with his brother, Luigi, to save Princess Peach from captivity in an underground labyrinth. The trailers also feature the Mushroom Kingdom, a well-known setting in the Mario franchise that typically houses most Mario games. The second trailer for the movie, released in November, revealed some key plot points. The princess plays a significant role in the fight against the villain, Bowser, who is on a mission to wreak havoc. In one scene, Princess Peach rallies the troops, saying, "Bowser is coming. Together, we are going to stop that monster." Additionally, fans are expecting an epic kart race on Rainbow Road, a beloved course from the Mario Kart series.

Is Chris Pratt the right choice for Mario?

Pratt's voice role has sparked a lot of debate among fans, especially due to his lack of Italian heritage. The first trailer, released in October 2021, added to the confusion when it revealed Pratt's Brooklyn-heavy Mario accent.

One disappointed user wrote, "Looks great but Mario just sounds like Chris Pratt talking regularly. For the love of all that is holy get Mario's original VA to do the lines, or hire one of the million Mario impersonators out there. WHY would you go with Pratt? Madness." Another user, an evident Pratt fan, also seemed disappointed with the performance as they wrote, "Ok...after hearing Chris Pratt's Mario voice some more...he is not the actor for this role...and this is coming from a Chris Pratt fan. (don't crucify me) Everything else looks great though."

However, the directors of the movie defended their choice, stating to Total Film Magazine that Pratt's portrayal of a blue-collar hero with a lot of heart fits perfectly with the way they have characterized Mario in the film. Pratt himself had also mentioned working closely with the directors to create a voice that made sense for the story. Despite this, some have criticized the casting, such as John Leguizamo who played Luigi in the 1993 live-action 'Super Mario Bros' movie, who called the decision to have two white actors voice the lead roles a "backwards" step.

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