Mario movie delayed in Australia

The Super Mario Bros. Move has had its release date pushed back in Australia to better line up with the rest of the world and tie in with holidays

Universal Pictures has delayed The Super Mario Bros. Movie in Australia, pushing the release back a week to better line up with the movie’s release in other regions.

Australian news website Vooks first noticed the change on the Universal Pictures Australia website, which now lists the movie’s release date as April 5 2023. That’s exactly a week later than the previously stated March 30, and it pushes the release to be similarly timed to its release in the US, which is on April 7.

Vooks reportedly contacted Universal Pictures Australia, who confirmed that the later release date is indeed correct. Marketing material and cinema showing times will apparently be updated soon.

Before the change, Australia was due to get the new movie well before most of the world. The US wasn’t due to get the film until April 7, and Japan won’t be getting the film until April 27.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie features regular plumber Mario and his brother Luigi as they’re transported to the Mushroom Kingdom. Picture: Universal Pictures

Australia wasn’t the earliest however, as several European countries will be able to watch Mario’s first animated outing on the big screen as early as March 22. Of course, it’s entirely possible that the release dates for those countries could also be moved prior to its release, too.

It was recently revealed that Princess Peach would be getting an expanded role in the Mario movie. The princess, who’s being voiced by Queen’s Gambit star Anya Taylor-Joy, was shown in a recent trailer to be taking on a more active role than she does in the games, even suiting up and wielding an axe to fight against Bowser.

Peach won’t be locked away in a tower in the Super Mario Bros. Movie, instead fighting Bowser herself. Picture: Universal Pictures

It comes as Mario fans have expressed disappointment over Chris Pratt’s take on Mario’s voice. Many fans have said that Pratt sounds “boring” in the role, and have compared his performance in the trailers to Mario voice actors in international language versions of the same trailers, saying the other languages are better.

McDonald’s currently has Super Mario Bros movie toys in its Happy Meals as part of a promotion for the movie, despite the film being almost six months away. The Super Mario Bros. movie was originally planned to release in the holiday period of 2022, which could explain why McDonald’s Australia is running the promotion now and not closer to release.

Written by Oliver Brandt on behalf of GLHF.