Nintendo dropped a significant update in August, announcing that Charles Martinet, the longstanding voice behind Mario, would be stepping down from his iconic role. This revelation came as a surprise to many, especially when it was clear from the Super Mario Bros. Wonder trailers that Martinet wasn’t the voice behind the beloved plumber in this installment. Fans were buzzing with curiosity and countless theories, eager to find out who would be the successor to such a revered role. Nintendo has now ended all speculations by officially announcing that Kevin Afghani, known for his work in Genshin Impact, is taking on the mantle as the new voice of Mario.
The confirmation came straight from the horse’s mouth when Nintendo shared, “The voice actor’s name is Kevin Afghani,” in an official statement to Game Informer. This news sparked quite a bit of activity on social media, with Afghani himself expressing his exhilaration. He tweeted his gratitude, highlighting that he’s thrilled to be voicing not just Mario, but Luigi as well in the upcoming Super Mario Bros. Wonder. He shared, “Incredibly proud to have voiced Mario and Luigi in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Thanks to Nintendo for inviting me into the Flower Kingdom.”
Kevin Afghani is no novice in the voice-acting arena. He boasts an impressive portfolio with characters like Arnold from Genshin Impact, Raditz in Dragon Ball R&R, and various roles in the Secret History of Cuphead short. With such a diverse range of characters under his belt, it’s exciting to think of the fresh spin he might bring to the universe. Fans don’t have to wait too long to hear his take on the iconic character as Super Mario Bros. Wonder is set to launch exclusively on the Nintendo Switch come October 20.
