The animated movie of Super Mario is the most successful video game adaptation worldwide and was well received by audiences. However, in the sequel, an actor will likely not be returning.
Who is it about? The actor, voice actor, and comedian Sebastian Maniscalco played the boss of the main character in the Super Mario film. As the voice of Spike, he was also the first to share something about the film before the official announcement.
In August 2021, about two years before the film’s release, Maniscalco was a guest on Bertcast podcast (via YouTube). There, he talked about his role as Spike in the animated Super Mario film. His leak made headlines at the time.
However, he will likely not have a role in the sequel. But he does not find proof of this in the leak, but rather in stuffed animals.
Here you can watch the first trailer for the “Super Mario” movie:
Stuffed Animals instead of Leaks
What is the deal with the stuffed animals? Currently, Sebastian Maniscalco does not believe that he will have a role in the Super Mario sequel. The proof of this likely came from a trip to Universal Studios with his kids.
In the “Super Mario” store, Maniscalco wanted to show his children the character Spike as a stuffed animal, but everyone was disappointed. There was no merchandise for the villain, but there was for all the other characters in the film, he told ScreenRant.
I was with my kids and said: “Guys, come on. I’m going to show you Daddy’s character in the form of a stuffed animal.” No Spike, nothing at all. That was it for me. Every other character was there, just not mine, I had no animal, no plush toy, nothing at all.
He further states: “The fact that I didn’t have a plush toy does not give me a lot of confidence that I’m coming back for the sequel.”
Is a plush toy needed to know whether you’re in a movie? Whether you are in a film or not is usually known long before the film is released. For example, in the case of the first “Super Mario” film, Maniscalco was already involved in the shooting in 2021, although the film was not released until 2023.
However, the voice actor reaffirms his suspicion: “I haven’t heard anything, so your guess is as good as mine” (via Screenrant).
The actor could actually fit well in the next installment, as the sequel is said to take Mario and Luigi back to Brooklyn, where Maniscalco’s character Spike lives. The next Super Mario film is set to hit Japanese theaters on April 24, 2026. By the way, did you know that there would be no Mario without Popeye: Only thanks to Popeye does the universe of Mario exist as it is today
