Charles Martinez to retire as main voice actor for Nintendo's Mario franchise

Nintendo this week confirms that Charles Andre Martinet will be stepping down from his role as the official voice actor for core characters from the Super Mario Bros. franchise, not least of these being Mario and Luigi themselves!

The console giant further acknowledges that Martinez was NOT involved with Super Mario Bros. Wonder, confirming fanbase suspicions that Mario and Luigi are already being voiced by new actor(s) in the upcoming Switch platformer.

Martinez requires little introduction to both longtime gamers and Nintendo fans alike, having provided the voice acting for Mario since 1991. Such roles were limited to trade shows and spin-off titles, until Martinez's brand of Mario finally hit mainstream with the North American release of Super Mario 64 waaay back in 1996. That's why it came as a surprise when Hollywood actor Chris Pratt was announced as the voice of Mario for the Super Mario Bros. Movie, although Martinez does have a notable cameo in the wildy-successful motion picture as Mario and Lugi's father.

To be sure, Nintendo isn't ready to let Martinez ride off into the Mushroom Kingdom sunset! Acknowledging his longtime contributions to the Mario franchise, Nintendo announces that Martinez will continue to work with the console giant in some capacity as "Mario Ambassador". We'll have to wait and see what that entails; in the meantime, Nintendo is expected to announce the new voice actors for Mario and Luigi once Super Mario Bros. Wonder nears its October 20 release.