Actor Kevin Afghani is the new voice of Mario (and Luigi), taking over for the iconic and legendary Charles Martinet. He's now discussed taking up the mantle of voicing one of the best-known characters in gaming and entertainment in general, saying Martinet will always be Mario.
"Look, Charles, as far as I'm concerned, IS Mario," Afghani told USA Today. "He created something that is so unbelievably iconic. And he did it so masterfully. If I wasn't nervous, then I'm the wrong guy."
Afghani said he refers to himself as "the second guy who's doing Mario," with Martinet forever standing as "the guy."
"There is such an unbelievable respect for Charles. He is amazing," Afghani said.
Afghani began his career as Mario with 2023's Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Asked if he now gets recognized for his role, he said it "doesn't happen very often," in part because the job he does is mostly off screen.
"Nobody thinks about who does the voice of Mario. Ever. Everybody knows who Mario is. But the second you're like, 'He has a voice actor,' it's like, 'Oh, yeah, I guess he must,'" Afghani said.
Also in the interview, Afghani dispelled the rumor that he previously did narration work for Nintendo Directs in the past. It isn't true, he said. "There's this weird narrative online I was in Nintendo Directs; I narrated Nintendo Directs. I never worked for Nintendo before being Mario," he said.
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"Look, Charles, as far as I'm concerned, IS Mario," Afghani told USA Today. "He created something that is so unbelievably iconic. And he did it so masterfully. If I wasn't nervous, then I'm the wrong guy."
Afghani said he refers to himself as "the second guy who's doing Mario," with Martinet forever standing as "the guy."
"There is such an unbelievable respect for Charles. He is amazing," Afghani said.
Afghani began his career as Mario with 2023's Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Asked if he now gets recognized for his role, he said it "doesn't happen very often," in part because the job he does is mostly off screen.
"Nobody thinks about who does the voice of Mario. Ever. Everybody knows who Mario is. But the second you're like, 'He has a voice actor,' it's like, 'Oh, yeah, I guess he must,'" Afghani said.
Also in the interview, Afghani dispelled the rumor that he previously did narration work for Nintendo Directs in the past. It isn't true, he said. "There's this weird narrative online I was in Nintendo Directs; I narrated Nintendo Directs. I never worked for Nintendo before being Mario," he said.
Source