We’re going to have to wait a little bit longer to see Mario and his gang on the big screen. It has been announced that Illumination and Universal Pictures have pushed back the theatrical release of Super Mario Bros. to 2023.
Originally slated for release on December 21, 2022, the film will now hit screens on April 7, 2023. Per Deadline, the shift is said to be taking place because Universal wants to optimize the family audience over the Easter holiday. While I think it would make more sense to release the movie ahead of the Christmas holiday when the box office tends to be robust, Universal Pictures isn’t completely abandoning the date. They also announced that Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, will move from September 23, 2022, to the date vacated by Super Mario Bros. on December 21, 2022. On its new date, Super Mario Bros. will go up against Sony’s George Forman biopic and an untitled event movie from Warner Bros.
Super Mario Bros. is directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic from a screenplay by Matthew Fogel. The film will feature the vocal talent of Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess 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 and Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike.
Do YOU think it was smart to move Super Mario Bros. to Easter weekend of 2023?