It's-a me...Mario!

RACHAEL DAVIS chats to stars Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day and Jack Black about bringing a gaming favourite to the big screen

ANYONE who's ever driven on the Rainbow Road, landed a Final Smash, clambered up platforms in the Mushroom Kingdom or eaten a power-up mushroom holds a special place in their hearts for Italian plumbers Mario and Luigi.

The Super Mario game franchise is one of the best-selling of all time, and its colourful characters, catchy soundtracks, inventive game mechanics and co-op fun have made the Nintendo games enduringly popular for players across generations.

This popularity, and the legendary status of the Mario brothers, is what made Parks And Recreation and Guardians Of The Galaxy star Chris Pratt jump at the chance to play Mario in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

"When I was presented with the opportunity to lend my voice to such an iconic character, it was too exciting to pass it up," says Chris, 43 of the animated film.

"What interested me most was the opportunity to help flesh the character out beyond what we see in the games.

He continues: "In a way, the main character in The Super Mario Bros. games is whoever is behind the controller. Mario is just a brick-smashing avatar. We don't know much about him other than he's a little Italian plumber with a moustache who says 'Woohoo!' and 'Let's-a go!'

"So, in order to craft a compelling and relatable narrative, one with heart, humour, adventure... we had to dig in and discover the character beyond what the games have shown us. His insecurity, his ambition, his persistence."

Going further than the video game character was also important to Anya Taylor-Joy, who voices Princess Peach.