Bowser (2022 film)

Bowser is a 2022 American animated superhero comedy film produced by Disney Animation Group, Nintendo, Lord Miller Productions, and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Based on Nintendo's Mario video game franchise, it was directed by Rob Letterman and written by Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember. It’s stars Jack Black, Katy Perry, Kevin Hart, Trey Parker, Zach Galifianakis, Bobby Cannavale, Anthony Ramos, Kevin Michael Richardson, and Rupert Everett.
Development of Bowser started in October 2017, with Black confirmed to return to play his role, after the critical and commercial success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, with Letterman was hired to direct the film, reunited again with Black after doing on Shark Tale, Gulliver's Travels and Goosebumps. Casting call began in July to November 2020. The film also features characters from other notable franchises and film series with them. The animation was provided by DNEG Animation. Henry Jackman, a frequent collaborator Letterman, composed the film's musical score.
Bowser premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on May 9, 2022, and was released in the United States by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on May 13. The film was received positive reviews and it grossed $591.3 million worldwide on a $150 million budget.
== Cast ==
*Jack Black as Bowser, a tortoise-like monster and the King of the Koopas. He is a parody of Megamind, Deadpool and Gru.
*Katy Perry as Smurfette, a strong-willed news reporter and a female Smurf who becomes Bowser's love interest. She is a parody of Lois Lane. Perry said she played the role as the same character from the film The Smurfs.
*Kevin Hart as Minion, a talking fish who has been Bowser's sidekick and best friend since childhood. His costume is evocative of Ro-Man from Robot Monster.
*Trey Parker as Balthazar Bratt, a super-villain and former child star who grows up to become obsessed with the character that he played in the 1980s and is bent on world domination
*Rupert Everett as Metro Man, Bowser's former nemesis who leaves his superhero life to pursue a new career in music. He is a parody of Superman. The home release commentary notes that his costume and showmanship are purposely evocative of Elvis Presley.
*Bobby Cannavale as The Warden, the head of Los Angeles Prison.
*Zach Galifianakis as Bernard, a museum curator whom Bowser impersonates to win Roxie's heart.
*Anthony Ramos as Hal Stewart / Tighten, Bowser's hapless, dimwitted cameraman who has an unrequited crush on her. Given powers by Bowser to become a superhero named Titan (mistaken as "Tighten" by Hal), but his superpowers was stolen by Balthazar Bratt. His name is in reference to Hal Jordan and John Stewart of the Green Lantern Corps.
*Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek, a Magikoopa and Bowser's advisor and informant.
*Scott Menville as the Koopa General, the winged, blue-shelled leader of Bowser's army and a Koopa Troopa who is turned into a Dry Bones.
*Conrad Vernon as Prison Guard
*Rob Letterman as Lord Scott / Prison Guard
*Jack Blessing as Newscaster
*Justin Theroux and Jessica Schulte as Megamind's parents
*Rob Corddry as Random Citizen
Additionally, Andy Nyman voices Clive the robot, Bratt's sidekick.
==Production==
===Development===
In October 2017, during Nintendo Direct presentation, Shigeru Miyamoto announced to make a spin-off film starring Bowser, with Disney Animation Group produce the film. In April 2019, Rob Letterman was brought on board, with Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember were hired to write the screenplay. In June 2019, Jack Black confirmed to reprises his role as Bowser, reuniting him with Letterman, after working together on Shark Tale, Gulliver's Travels and Goosebumps. In November 2019, Disney and Nintendo announced that the visual effects company DNEG Animation was on board as a digital production partner to provide the film's computer animation. 
His work on Bowser was influenced by the comedy portrayed in both Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Naked Gun and Airplane! film series, with his pitch for the film to the studios being described as like "Jerry Maguire as directed by Michael Mann".
===Casting===
In July 2020, Katy Perry confirm to cast as Smurfette again. And by April 2021, during CinemaCon, it was announced that Kevin Hart, Trey Parker, Bobby Cannavale, Anthony Ramos, Zach Galifianakis, and Rupert Everett joined the cast.
===Music===
Henry Jackman, who previously worked with Letterman on Monsters vs. Aliens (2009), Gulliver's Travels (2010) and Detective Pikachu (2019), provided the score for the film.
== Release ==
=== Theatrical ===
Bowser was theatrically released earlier in international markets on May 1, 2022, and later in the United States on May 13, 2022. It was previously scheduled for release domestically on February 18, 2022. The film also had its world premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on May 9, 2022.