Tag: Jack Black

Posted on in Film News, News

Universal’s Animated ‘Super Mario Bros.’ Movie Voice Cast To Include Chris Pratt & Coming Out December 2022

Nintendo, Illumination (animation studio behind Despicable Me), and Universal Pictures have been developing an animated film based on the iconic Super Mario Bros. video game franchise.

Yesterday, Nintendo made huge waves by announcing the film’s voice cast lineup and a December 21, 2022 release date. The former news seemingly landed a negative reaction, mainly, with Marvel actor Chris Pratt voicing Mario. Pratt previously lending his voice to Pixar’s Onward and the two LEGO movies from Warner Bros., the first installment being a mega hit.

As you can see below, Illumination has hired seasoned actors that have done voice work for animation before.

  • Chris Pratt as Mario 
  • Anya Taylor-Joy as Peach 
  • Charlie Day as Luigi 
  • Jack Black as Bowser 
  • Keegan-Michael Key as Toad 
  • Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong 
  • Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong 
  • Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek 
  • Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike 
  • Surprise Cameos From Charles Martinet (Mario voice actor)

Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (Teen Titans Go!, Teen Titans Go! To The Movies) are directing from script penned by screenwriter Matthew Fogel (The LEGO Movie: The Second Part, Minions: The Rise of Gru).

Illumination founder Chris Meledandri and Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto are also producing the project.

I wouldn’t be terribly shocked if a Donkey Kong movie starring Seth Rogen is announced between now and Mario’s release in late 2022, given how popular that Nintendo character is and how Illumination has been handling spinoffs with the Minion movies.

Chris Pratt’s next big feature for Universal Pictures will be Jurassic World: Dominion, the third installment in the Jurassic World trilogy and sixth in the larger Jurassic Park franchise, which might have a part in why the actor was selected for the role. This fall he’ll reunite with writer/director James Gunn for Marvel’s long-delayed Guardians of The Galaxy Vol.3.

Mario has had other non-video game counterparts in the past with live-action and animated versions on The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! and with the box office flop feature film Super Mario Brothers: The Movie led by Bob Hoskins.

SOURCE: NINTENDO

Posted on in Film News

‘The Magnificent Seven’s Haley Bennett Is The Latest Addition To The ‘Borderlands’ Movie From Director Eli Roth

The Magnificent Seven’s Haley Bennett has joined the growing cast of Lionsgate’s feature film adaptation of the video game franchise Borderlands, directed by Eli Roth. The news of Haley’s addition to Borderlands comes to us via The Hollywood Reporter. The actress will take an unnamed key role joining a cast that includes Cate Blanchett as Lilith, Kevin Hart as Roland, Jamie Lee Curtis as Tannis, Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina, Florian Munteanu as Krieg, and Jack Black as Claptrap.

The game’s story focuses on a group of four “Vault Hunters”, who travel to the distant planet of Pandora to search for the “Vault”, which is rumored to contain advanced alien technology and other priceless riches.

Eli Roth will be directing from a script penned by Craig Mazin, the writer is best known for his work on the fantastic HBO limited series Chernobyl and is currently working with Neil Druckmann for the live-action series based on The Last of Us starring The Mandalorian’s Pedro Pascal as Joel.

The filming is going to be taking place in Budapest. We’ve been able to confirm that Borderlands’ production team includes production designer Oliver Scholl (Suicide Squad, Venom, Spider-Man: Homecoming) and cinematographer Rogier Stoffers (Death Wish, The House With A Clock In Its Walls).

Lionsgate has yet to give the action film an official release date but sometime in 2022 feels like a good bet.

SOURCE: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER