Some fans are worried that longtime Mario voice actor Charles Martinet has been replaced in the upcomingSuper Mario Bros. Wonder. While Nintendo’s iconic plumber isn’tMartinet’s only big gaming role, his signature high-pitched tone and Italian accent have become synonymous with Mario ever since players first heard them inSuper Mario 64. Charles Martinet has provided the voices of Mario and several other characters in virtually everyMariogame since then, and his performance is so beloved that there was a considerable backlash when it was announced that Chris Pratt would instead voice the hero inThe Super Mario Bros. Movie.This has led some fans to think that Nintendo is looking to replace Charlies Martinet in theMariogames, but Martinet has assured everyone thathe wishes to continue voicing Mariofor as long as he can. He has also expressed his love of the character and his devotion to his role as the Mushroom Kingdom’s resident plumber on multiple occasions, though the some of the latestMarioannouncements have brought back the rumors of him hanging up his iconic red hat.RELATED:Nintendo Patents Bizarre Mario-Themed Health App and DeviceNot too long afterthe trailer forSuper Mario Bros. Wonderwas revealed at this week’s Nintendo Direct livestream, fans have started debating that Charles Martinet has been replaced. Twitter users like GemOnTW have speculated that Mario sounds somewhat different inWonder, using clips from previousMariogames as a reference to how Martinet usually sounds. Others, like BlueBowser and Chris Schilling, instead think that the voice sounds the same and that Nintendo simply had Charles Martinet record new voice samples.
Super Mario Bros. Wonderisn’t the only newly-announced Nintendo game to draw speculation that Martinet has been replaced, as some players also think that Mario’s arch-rival Wario sounds different inthe trailer forWarioWare: Move It. However, the explanations that fans have given for Mario’s supposedly different voice inSuper Mario. Bros. Wondercan also be applied toWarioWare: Move It, and neither Nintendo nor Charles Martinet have officially commented on the situation as of this writing.
If there is any difference between Mario’s voice inSuper Mario Bros. Wonderand the cheery performance of Charles Martinet, it is extremely subtle. However, there seem to be plenty of fans that think that a different actor is behind the legendary gaming mascot’s trademark “wa-hoo” in the recently released trailer - much to the alarm of players that have grown to love Martinet as the full-time plumber and part-time savior of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Super Mario Bros. Wonderlaunches on October 20, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
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