Original Luigi reveals if he’d return for Mario Movie sequel
Unless you've been locked up in Bowser's castle, you'll undoubtedly have noticed that The Super Mario Bros. Movie is everywhere right now. Not to be confused with Super Mario Bros. from 1993, the 2023 video game adaptation comes from Illumination Entertainment - the team behind Minions.
Although we were originally sceptical about Jurassic World's Chris Pratt voicing the titular plumber, The Super Mario Bros. Movie cleared our fears about a dodgy Italian accent were (largely) put to bed. With it breaking records and heading toward box office greatness, talk has obviously turned to the sequel.
Could John Leguizamo be in The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2?
Click to enlargeBefore The Super Mario Bros. Movie debuted, one of the most vocal voiced against it was a former franchise star. If you sat through the 1993 car crash, you'll know it starred the late Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo as Mario and Luigi.
Leguizamo criticised The Super Mario Bros. Movie for a lack of Latino involvement, so he might not be the most likely to cameo in the sequel. However, Leguizamo has confirmed whether Illumination can turn it around and lure him into a pair of overalls for The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 (what a mouthful).
Speaking to IndieWire, Leguizamo discussed racism in Hollywood and the chances of seeing him in a Mario sequel. The actor simply said, "If they start to do the right thing and add more inclusivity, I'd consider it."
In November 2022, Leguizamo made his feelings clear and slammed The Super Mario Bros. Movie for a lack of diversity. He encouraged others to boycott the animated adaptation, so safe to say, there's likely some bad blood between him and the studio. Still, he'd be an impressive name to attach to the sequel.
The Mario Cinematic Universe is coming
Click to enlargeThe Super Mario Bros. Movie was fit to bursting with Easter eggs and cameos. Notably, famed Mario voice actor Charles Martinet played Mario's dad and a character called Giuseppe. The likes of Arkham's Tara Strong said it should've been Martinet voicing Mario, while others think he deserved more than a minor cameo.
At least there should be room for Martinet and Leguizamo in The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2. Alongside whispers of a Donkey Kong spin-off and Charlie Day championing himself for a Luigi's Mansion outing, Pratt himself has pretty much confirmed a sequel.
If Leguizamo is willing to put his grievances aside, it would be a touching Easter egg to have The Menu star pop up in another Mario movie. There might not be much love lost right now, but it could be worse, it could be Hoskins calling 1993's movie the words thing he ever starred in and a "f***in' nightmare."
