From the vibrant chaos of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario is once again getting ready to take its fandom into a cosmic world. After The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 2023 crossed $1.36 billion worldwide, the franchise shows no signs of slowing down, now returning with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie for a bigger, galaxy-spanning leap. However, even before the journey unfolds on screen, a noticeable buzz has already taken over around Mario’s signature catchphrase, with Chris Pratt stepping in to address the controversial change.

Here’s what Chris Pratt said while explaining the controversial change to Mario’s catchphrase in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

Following Mario on a galaxy-spanning adventure, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is set to bring back one of gaming’s most iconic characters with a fresh twist. While Mario’s signature “Mamma Mia” remains a globally recognised catchphrase, Chris Pratt revealed in an interview with ScreenRant’s Ash Crossan, alongside Benny Safdie, that his version may not be the one fans are used to, as delivering the line in its original high-pitched Italian tone did not feel natural for a Brooklyn-rooted Mario.

"I'm not going to say it right now because I haven't done all my vocal warmups. I don't want to do it, but it's "Mamma Mia." It's "Mamma Mia." And when you hear that original version of the character, it's in Italian. It's like, [high pitched] "Mamma Mia." And I'm like, "Why does it make sense for a guy who's from Brooklyn who doesn't have that accent to use that so much?," Pratt said when asked about most common effor he had to make about his character. 

While The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is set to release on April 1, 2026 (USA), the film will roll out across different regions on varying dates, including a Japan release scheduled for April 24, 2026. Expanding beyond the Mushroom Kingdom, this animated venture marks another collaboration between Nintendo and Illumination, with Universal Pictures backing its theatrical release in RealD 3D and IMAX, while also levelling up the excitement by bringing in legendary pilot Fox McCloud for the ride, hinting at a surprise crossover within its cosmic adventure.

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As the story expands into the cosmos, so does its cast, with returning members stepping back in alongside several new additions to the adventure.

Set to drive fans back into a galaxy-spanning adventure once again, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie brings Mario and Luigi, played by Chris Pratt and Charlie Day, back into the spotlight. Joining them are Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, and Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek, while new additions include Brie Larson as Rosalina, Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr., Donald Glover as Yoshi, Issa Rae as Honey Queen, Glenn Powell as Fox McCloud, and Luis Guzmán as Wart, expanding the universe with both familiar faces and fresh surprises.

Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, and written by Matthew Fogel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is set to pack its 98-minute runtime with a high-energy, cosmic spectacle. Picking up from where The Super Mario Bros. Movie left off, the sequel follows Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad as they head into space to stop Bowser Jr. from freeing his father and rebuilding the Koopa Empire. Guided by Rosalina and the Lumas, the adventure unfolds across gravity-defying galaxies while hinting at deeper secrets tied to Peach’s origin.

And while Chris Pratt’s “Mamma Mia” may not sound the same this time, the change might just be the film’s boldest power-up yet.

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What are your thoughts on Chris Pratt explaining the controversial change to Mario’s catchphrase “Mamma Mia” in the upcoming The Super Mario Galaxy Movie? Let us know in the comments.