Waves were made a couple months ago when it was announced that living bottle of Bud Light and Guardians of the Galaxy star Chris Pratt would be voicing Mario, the one and only, in next year’s Super Mario Bros. movie. And while the backlash to that particular casting was severe to be the main takeaway from the Nintendo Direct in which it was announced, apparently Alcon Entertainment and Sony Pictures didn’t get the memo, as they’ve signed Pratt on to voice Garfield in an upcoming animated feature. Announced on Monday, of all days.
While the lasagna-guzzling, bed-loving orange tabby hasn’t had a singular iconic voice actor like Mario’s Charles Martinet, his sleepy drawl is still iconic, having been performed by a host of character actors over the years as well as the legendary Bill Murray in the two live-action adaptations. While Pratt does have proven star power (and Hollywood appears to be once again following the ideology of ‘big stars make big money’), it’s unclear what kind of performance he’d give for the occasion, and if he’d be able to live up to the legacy.
Regardless of whatever potential there is, the internet is already taking the news negatively. People praying it’s a joke, or those just asking for any different A-lister, are common. One friend (the biggest Garfield fan I know) personally messaged me to say “Amelia I’m in pain” in regards to the announcement. While this negativity may be paradoxically good for the movie (no such thing as bad publicity, as they say) that doesn’t mean the internet will abide easily.
The real question is: who’s next? Snoopy? Caillou? Arthur the Aardvark? Who will Chris Pratt’s monotone Just A Guy voice grace next? Either way, we can all agree: Mondays suck.
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Written by Amelia Fruzzetti
A writer and Nintendo fan based in Seattle, Washington. When not working for NinWire, she can be found eating pasta, writing stories, and wondering about when Mother 3 is finally going to get an official localization.
