Fans have been digging into the poster and teaser trailer for the upcoming Super Mario Bros. movie, which show a fascinating new take on the old Mushroom Kingdom rendered in higher fidelity than ever. This team-up between Nintendo and Illumination seeks to retell the story of Mario's first battle with Bowser. There are a lot of fine details about the Super Mario Bros. movie that fans don't know yet, least of all being how much of an accent Mario's voice actor Chris Pratt uses, but hopes are still high.
The teaser consisted of three distinct sections of the movie, abridged to various degrees. The first was likely its opening scene, showing Bowser stealing what appears to be a Power Star from a penguin kingdom. The second showed Mario entering the Mushroom Kingdom for the first time and meeting Toad. The third scene is a brief stinger of Luigi running away from a horde of Dry Bones, and many fans have noted that this is a perfect use for the second Mario brother. In fact, many are hoping that if the Mario movie launches a Nintendo cinematic universe, a Luigi's Mansion movie could come in the near future.
Luigi Deserves a Leading Role on the Big Screen
For the first few years of their existence, Luigi stood in Mario's shadow. It took some time, but Luigi has become fully realized and independent of his famous brother. Mario is a very basic character, often by necessity given Mario games require a confident and competent hero to engage with their mechanics, with Mario remaining a popular industry icon based on his series’ high quality. Still, he's often not allowed to speak for himself or show prolonged emotions beyond enthusiasm, which is where Luigi comes in.
Luigi's Mansion and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga characterized Luigi as a lovable coward, and this has stuck for over 20 years. In sharp contrast with Mario, Luigi is a perpetual underdog, unable to hide his fear and reluctance. He ultimately rises to any challenge, and his victories in spite of himself have endeared Luigi to many fans. While a lot of people like Mario, stronger feelings tend to be reserved for the extended cast, and Luigi stands above almost everyone. Many people want to see more from Luigi's Mansion and Mario & Luigi to witness Luigi's antics, and the upcoming movie seems aware of this.
A Luigi’s Mansion Adaptation Feels like the Logical Next Step
The scene included in the film's trailer seems like a deliberate homage to Luigi's self-titled series. This isn't the first time Luigi's Mansion has been referenced, with the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate trailer for Simon and Richter Belmont also placing Luigi in a horror setting. He has picked up an association with family-friendly horror, and if the Super Mario Bros. movie already leans into this, so much more can be done in a film starring Luigi alone.
Chances are, Mario is not going to be the most popular character in his own movie. A Charlie Day-voiced Luigi following his canon personality could easily be a stand-out, and the layup for another film starring him in a different part of the Mario universe is too perfect. It wouldn't need to recreate Luigi's Mansion, but following the formula of finding a haunted building and meeting up with E. Gadd would be more than enough. It would be a huge departure from the Super Mario Bros. film and the Mario franchise in general, but that's just what Luigi's Mansion did. Variety could keep Nintendo's films fresh, so whether it's treated as a spin-off or another blockbuster film, a Luigi's Mansion movie should be on the table.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie will hit theaters on April 7, 2023.