Former Luigi Actor John Leguizamo Says ‘Hell No’ to Watching ‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Due to Casting: ‘They Messed Up the Inclusion’

John Leguizamo is doubling down on criticizingUniversal and Illuminations animated film The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which casts Chris Pratt and Charlie Day in the leading voice roles of Mario and Luigi. Leguizamo brought Luigi to life in a live-action format opposite Bob Hoskins Mario in 1993s Super Mario Bros. The actor told TMZ on the day The Super Mario Bros. Movie opened in theaters that he wont be watching it due to the casting.

No I will not [be watching]. They couldve included a Latin character, Leguizamo said. Like I was groundbreaking and then they stopped the groundbreaking. They messed up the inclusion. They dis-included. Just cast some Latin folk! Were 20% of the population. The largest people of color group and we are underrepresented.

When asked again by TMZ if he would be watching the movie, Leguizamo answered: Hell no!

Leguizamo first spoke outagainst the new animated movie on Twitter last October, writing that a Mario movie reboot was a good idea but it was too bad they went all white! No Latinx in the leads! Groundbreaking color-blind casting in original!Plus Im the only one who knows how to make this movie work script-wise!

Speaking to IndieWirein November, Leguizamo said The Super Mario Bros. Movie is backwards for having two white actors voice Mario and Luigi.

Im O.G. A lot of people love the original, Leguizamo said when asked for his thoughts on the Chris Pratt-starring new Mario movie. I did Comic-Con in New York and in Baltimore, and everyones like, No, no, we love the old one, the original. Theyre not feeling the new one. Im not bitter. Its unfortunate.

The directors Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton fought really hard for me to be the lead because I was a Latin man, and they [the studio] didnt want me to be the lead, the actor added. They fought really hard, and it was such a breakthrough. For them to go backwards and not cast another [actor of color] kind of sucks.

While Princess Peach voice actor Anya Taylor-Joy Taylor-Joy has Argentine ancestry and lived in Argentina for several years as a child, Leguizamo appears to be focusing his ire on the lack of inclusion regarding the main roles of Mario and Luigi.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is now playing in theaters nationwide.