Every Super Mario Bros. Villain We'll See In The Movie
Since the 1980s, the "Super Mario Brothers" franchise has created some of the most popular and well-known video games. Whether you play as Mario running through various worlds and obstacles to save Princess Peach, battle with Sonic at the Olympic games, or choose your favorite franchise character to speed against the others on race tracks, it is likely you have played one of the Mario franchise games before.
Now, Illumination, Nintendo, and Universal Pictures are coming together to bring some of the most iconic Mario Bros. characters to the big screen. With so much anticipation around heroes like Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), and Toad (Keegan Michael-Key) who are going to step up and save the day, fans are also looking forward to the collection of notable villains that these heroes will have to face. Based on the plot and the official trailer, Bowser (Jack Black) is Mario's main villain, but there are many other recognizable faces that players have seen Mario battle before, and will watch him fight again in the film.
"The Super Mario Bros. Movie" is set to premiere in April 2023, but read on to learn about all of the villains who have been confirmed for the film so far.
Bowser
Right off the bat is Bowser, the main villain of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie." Bowser, sometimes called King Koopa, is first introduced in the second Super Mario Bros. game, where he is Baby Bowser. As Bowser's story progresses, he becomes the primary antagonist for Mario and Luigi. Bowser's main goal is to kidnap Princess Peach for himself and to rule over the whole kingdom, not just the Koopa Troop.
In the film, Bowser is voiced by the brilliant Jack Black, who said that he tried to bring his rock and roll cred to the part. In an interview with NintendoLife, he said, "I did bring some of my heavy metal roots because — in a way — Bowser is kind of like a heavy metal rockstar ... I think you'll be surprised to see that Bowser has a musical side." In the trailer, Bowser battles with the Penguin King and holds Luigi captive, while Mario, Toad, and Peach plan to save the world from Bowser's wrath. It will be interesting to see how Black's take on the character will differ or align with the Bowser we know from the games.
Donkey Kong & Cranky Kong
Donkey Kong and Cranky Kong are definitely more antiheroes than villains, but they battle with Mario on occasion, while being his ally in other situations. Donkey Kong is much better known than Grandpa Cranky Kong, as Donkey Kong is the face of his own franchise while also being a key player in the Mario franchise. Mario actually first premiered not in his own game, but in Donkey Kong's. In the film, Donkey Kong is voiced by Seth Rogen, and the audience sees him face off with Mario in the arena, where Princess Peach, Toad, and what looks to be Cranky Kong, watch. It looks like Donkey Kong will be more of an ally to the heroes in this film than a hindrance.
The same goes for Cranky Kong and the rest of the Kong family, as it looks like the Kongs are joining Peach's efforts to save the world. Cranky Kong is an original Mario villain who is believed to be the original ape from the Donkey Kong game, now aged into a cranky grandfather-type character. In the film, Cranky Kong is voiced by Fred Armisen, who is known for his comedy, so you know there will be some laughable moments with Cranky. Though their intentions are likely not nefarious in this film, Donkey Kong and Cranky Kong both qualify as Mario villains who make an appearance in the film.
Kamek
Another well-known Mario villain is Kamek, a Koopa who possesses magical abilities and is one of the highest-ranking members of the Koopa Troop. Kamek is not only Baby Bowser's caretaker, but he is also Bowser's top adviser in the Koopa Troop War. Kamek does a lot of Bowser's bidding, using his magic to hinder Mario from saving the day. Kamek first appeared in the Mario franchise in the game "Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island."
In the film, Kamek is voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson, and he will likely play the same role as Bowser's adviser. Kamek can be seen in the first teaser for "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" announcing Bowser, telling the Penguins to "behold the king of the Koopas," so it's already clear that he has a higher rank in the Koopa Troop than others. It will be interesting to see what kind of trouble Kamek will stir up using his magic.
Foreman Spike
Foreman Spike is one of the lesser-known Mario villains. He's an original Mario competitor from the game "Wrecking Crew," which came out in the 1980s. Foreman Spike is essentially the Bowser of Mario and Luigi's workspace, always finding ways to hinder their progress and competing against Mario to find a coin.
The sunglasses-wearing Foreman Spike is not in many of the Mario installments, so there is not much information as to what role he will be playing in the film. However, what we do know is that Foreman Spike is voiced by Sebastian Maniscalco, a famous comedian. It is likely that Foreman Spike will be on Mario's side of the war, even though he is known for wrecking Mario's progress in the game. Though there is much speculation as to what role Foreman Spike will have, especially because the character is absent in the trailer, only time will tell.
Bullet Bills
Another famous Mario villain crew featured in the trailer is a group called the Bullet Bills. These villains aren't terrible, they just frequently get in the way of Mario's progress in the game. Bullet Bill is a large black bullet that is fired at Mario from different heights, attempting to knock him down and eliminate him from the game. When fired out of the Bill blasters, players can hear a sharp firing sound in the background. However, in the Mario Kart games, Bullet Bills are actually helpful. They help propel your character past others by transforming you into one of them for a few seconds.
That's why their villain status is more of an anti-hero, like Donkey Kong and others. In the trailer, Bullet Bill is seen propelling Mario through the sky. This appears to take place on an obstacle course set up by Princess Peach, who is training Mario for the war with Bowser. Because of this, it's likely to assume that the Bullet Bills will be playing more of a helpful role in the film, hindering Bowser instead of Mario.
Goombas
The Goombas are also minor villains who face off against Mario in his journey to save Princess Peach. Goombas are small, brown, mushroom-looking figures who walk around trying to hurt Mario. They do not have many special skills, and Mario and the other characters can take the Goombas out by just jumping on top of them.
In the movie, the Goombas are working with the Koopa Troop and Bowser to take down Princess Peach and her army. In the trailer, you can see the Goombas hanging out with the Koopas, the Bob-ombs, the Piranhas, and all the other villains who were recruited by Bowser. Though some of Mario's enemies like the Bullet Bills or the Cheep Cheeps are not working for Bowser, the Goombas are, in fact, working to add great numbers to Bowser's army, and will likely play small, filler roles without much dialogue.
Cheep-Cheeps
Mario fans will likely recall the memorable underwater levels, where Mario has to swim his way to the other side. One of the main villain groups from the underwater levels are the Cheep-Cheeps. They can jump out of the water, too, but they mostly live in the ocean. Cheep-Cheeps were first seen in the "Super Mario Bros." game, and they come in many different forms. Some just aimlessly swim, others jump in and out of the water, and some track your character through the water while you try to swim away.
These little fish are a huge hindrance to Mario, but it's likely they'll be a less intense villain in the film. In the trailer, Mario, Peach, and Toad are walking across a bridge when several Cheep-Cheeps jump out of the water. One sticks itself to Mario's face, and won't unlatch no matter how hard Mario tries to pull away. The Cheep-Cheeps don't seem to be trying as hard to directly hurt Mario's progress in the film — they just happen to frequently be in the way.
Koopa Troopas
Koopa Troopas are the biggest presence in Bowser's army. These turtle-like creatures make up the majority of Bowser's fighting forces, but only because of their strength in numbers as opposed to their skill. The Koopa Troopas were first introduced in Super Mario Bros. Other than Goombas, Koopa Troopas might be the easiest for Mario to defeat. All Mario has to do is jump on them, and then all that is left of them is their shell. Mario can then use their shells as a weapon or block other threats that approach him.
In the trailer, the Koopa Troopas are with the rest of the villains, preparing for battle. The Koopa Troopas are also in the teaser, where the audience can see just how many of them there are, and how they can go to battle for Bowser at a moment's notice. These characters likely will not have much dialogue, though, and instead will just serve as Bowser's henchmen.
Piranhas
The large and threatening Piranha Plants, also known as piranha flowers, are another side villain that is present in "The Super Mario Bros. Movie." These characters are based on Venus fly traps and are carnivorous, eating everything that they come in contact with. In some cases, these plants can talk, but mostly they just pop in and out of the green pipes, waiting to capture their unwitting prey. More often than not, the Piranha Plant doesn't have any specific allegiance, and just is working to hinder Mario's game progress.
In the film, the Piranha Plants are loyal to Bowser, and are seen with the rest of Bowser's army, including the Koopa Troopas, the Swoops, the Shy Guys, and all the other minor villains. In the trailer, we see a Piranha Plant show off its teeth by biting at one of the other army members.
Bob-ombs
Fans of Mario and Company know the anxiety of watching the ticking time bomb that is the Bob-omb character. The Bob-omb characters were first introduced in the "Super Mario Bros. 2" game: They are small little bombs that, when lit, will cause an explosion that greatly hinders a player's progress. Usually, the bombs are blue or black, and they flash a threatening red color when they are about to explode. Though they may seem cute, their effects are deadly.
In the film, the bombs are loyal to Bowser, even though they often are not directly associated with him in the games. In the trailer, you can see two Koopa Troopas throwing a bomb back and forth between themselves, likely waiting for it to explode or trying to diffuse it. Though these characters are an asset to Bowser, Mario almost always finds a way to beat them. Their threat will go away once Mario figures out the best way to attack them.
Swoops
Swoops, or Swoopers, as they are also called, are bat-like creatures known for their side villain plot of hindering Mario's progress. These spooky creatures are recurring in the Mario Bros. franchise, and are often seen in areas like Boo's Castle, or any dark and creepy corner. They typically wait until a character comes near them, and then they fall from the ceiling, earning their name by swooping toward their victims.
In the film, the Swoops are loyal to Bowser. You can see from the trailer that the Swoops fly into the army base where the Koopa Troopas, Shy Guys, Piranha Plants, and more are waiting for Bowser's orders. It will be interesting to see how much or how little they are used in the film, but it is likely that similar to the other side villains, they will not have much, if any, dialogue.
Hammer Bros
Look out, Koopa Troopas, because the Hammer Bros are here. Hammer Bros are essentially an upgraded version of a Koopa Troopa, having the same turtle shape, but with an added helmet and weapon. The Hammer Bros throw hammers at Mario and the other characters, attempting to render them useless. They first appeared in the "Super Mario Bros." game, and have become recurring figures throughout the franchise.
In the film, the Hammer Bros will definitely be present. Their initial appearance in the movie trailer is very brief, but you can see a Hammer Bro on the army base hanging out with other Koopa Troopas. You do not see his hammer, but you can see that he is exponentially bigger than the rest of the Koopa Troopas, alluding to the fact that he is a Hammer Bro. The Hammer Bros will certainly play a big part in helping Bowser, but they likely won't have much dialogue or any special moments.
Shy Guys
Another small villain that will have a hand in Bowser's army is the Shy Guy. Shy Guy is a small man wearing a red hoodie and a white, ghostly mask. These Shy Guys are known for their masks, because they are so shy that they do not want anyone to see their real faces. These characters were first introduced in "Super Mario Bros. 2," and they battle with Yoshi far more frequently than they do with Mario. However, they still face off with the main hero from time to time.
In the film, the Shy Guys are loyal to Bowser. In the trailer, you can see two Shy Guys running through the crowd, attempting to avoid the other dangerous side villains. Though these characters are meek, they are certainly going to help Bowser with his efforts. Shy Guys do not have any special abilities other than head-to-head combat, in which they are greatly skilled. It will be interesting to see if one of the Shy Guys, or a couple of Shy Guys, take on Mario directly in the film.
Buzzy Beetles
Finally, the audience should expect to see the Buzzy Beetles in "The Super Mario Bros. Movie." Buzzy Beetles, often called Buzzys, are also turtle-like, but walk on all fours instead of on their hind legs like the Koopa Troopas. These characters are known for lurking in dark and mysterious locations, where they can hide until they aggressively walk toward the characters they intend to harm. Buzzy Beetles, like Koopa Troopas, were introduced in "Super Mario Bros.," and they also hide in their shells when Mario defeats them.
In the film, the Buzzy Beetles are loyal to Bowser. You can see these creepy crawling creatures in the trailer, where one jumps on top of the other, and they head deeper into the army base. Because there are only a couple of Buzzy Beetles present, it is likely the side villains will not have many, if any, big moments in the film. However, they are still threatening, so Mario should watch his back.