Exclusive: Charles Martinet Reveals Unprecedented Insight into Mario Ambassador Role

Highlights

Former Mario voice actor, Charles Martinet, now serves as a Mario brand ambassador but is unsure about the specifics of his new role.

Martinet assures fans that he is not leaving the acting scene, even though he is no longer voicing Mario and other Nintendo characters. Fans became aware of Martinet's departure sooner than expected after noticing a distinct change in Mario's voice in the trailer for Super Mario Bros Wonder.

Former Mario voice actor Charles Martinet recently discussed his new role as an Ambassador with Nintendo and its significance during a convention. Nintendo has had an eventful few weeks, including a Super Mario Bros Wonder direct and Treehouse Live session, which offered fans a deeper look into the upcoming platformer. The event showcased aspects such as the story, new gameplay components like Badges, Powerups, and Wonder Flowers, and provided more gameplay footage.

However, the most unexpected announcement came a couple of weeks prior when it was revealed that Martinet would no longer be voicing Mario, Luigi, Wario, and other beloved Nintendo characters. Instead, he would be taking on a new position as a Mario brand ambassador. Despite this new role, Martinet appears uncertain about the specific responsibilities it entails at the moment.

At a recent question and answer panel at Galaxycon, Martinet, the voice actor for Mario, revealed that he would be stepping down from his role as Mario's voice actor and taking on the position of an ambassador. During the panel, Martinet admitted that he isn't fully aware of the responsibilities of this new role, but is eager to learn. Nevertheless, he expressed his commitment to representing Nintendo and Mario at events, and emphasized his appreciation for the experience.

Additionally, Martinet clarified that his decision to no longer voice classic Nintendo characters does not mean he is retiring from his career. Anticipating inquiries on this topic, he humorously redirected the conversation, playfully asking fans to avoid discussing it to avoid any spoilers as he hadn't seen the movie yet. Subsequently, the moderator and fans asked Martinet questions pertaining to his extensive acting career, including his early experiences on stage and his transition into voice acting, particularly for his memorable characters.

Martinet is widely known for his portrayal of Mario, but he has also lent his voice to other games, such as Gouji Rokkaku in Jet Set Radio Future, Orvus in Ratchet & Clank: A Crack In Time, and the leader of the Greybeards in Skyrim, known as Paarthurnax. Nevertheless, it is his work with Nintendo that truly solidified his fame. In fact, some fans seemed to have discovered his departure from Nintendo earlier than anticipated, when the reveal trailer for Super Mario Bros. Wonder presented a slightly different-sounding Mario than what many had anticipated.