Super Mario Bros. Movie cast defend huge Princess Peach changes

The Super Mario Bros. Movie finally comes out on April 5, and to be perfectly honest, we thought it might never arrive. We've been talking about it for so long - and the hilarious cast reveal was such a long time ago - it seems impossible that we've finally reached Rainbow Road.

But alas, a new dawn for the portly plumber is finally here, as we're fascinated to see what the film has in store for new and old fans alike. Those new secrets include a few changes to the fan-favourites that we know and love. Now, The Super Mario Bros. Movie cast has come forward to defend them.

Super Mario Bros Movie cast defends new Princess Peach

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Notably, there's a core change to the regular story of Mario games in the new movie. As per usual, Mario may still be on a quest, but it's not to save Princess Peach - it's to save his brother, Luigi.

It's a big shift, and it makes sense given Luigi's timidness. Anya Taylor-Joy is our new Peach and has come forward to defend the change. "I think it's ushering it into a new era," she says in conversation with Digital Spy.

"I think people are looking forward to seeing characters in a different way that they haven't before. And we're in a period of immense shift. When I first came out of this film, I felt so honoured and inspired by seeing this character.

"I just felt so proud, and she… I don't know. It's strange to be inspired by your own character, but I just left so excited for the generation of kids that was going to see a female leader in this way. I thought it was so cool."

Charlie Day - Luigi being a damsel in distress 'just makes sense'

Charlie Day voices Luigi in The Super Mario Bros. Movie and goes on to suggest that the move actually benefits Luigi's character too. "Well, I mean, Luigi in distress, just makes sense. I think it fits his character pretty well," he says.

"And I think, emotionally, for Mario, it's kind of great. It gives the movie different stakes. And then it's more active for Princess Peach, which is great. But then they still gave Luigi lots of fun things to do within that storyline. Yeah, I was really happy with it."

The movie sees plenty of change for the dynamic duos of plumbers and the wider Mushroom Kingdom. We've still got a snarling Bowser in the form of Jack Black, while Seth Rogen is a typically Rogen-esque Donkey Kong. A quivering Luigi is also a perfect segue into the scaredy cat getting his own Luigi's Mansion spin-off.

Princess Peach has become stronger on her own in recent games, so it makes sense to transfer this over to the movies. Losing the damsel in distress trope to give us a badass Princess Peach is sure to rattle some, but we're totally here for it.