Anya Taylor-Joy opens up about Princess Peach role in new Super Mario movie

The Queen’s Gambit star Anya Taylor-Joy has revealed one of her favourite things about preparing for her upcoming role as Princess Peach in the Super Mario Bros movie adaptation.

The cast of the long-awaited Nintendo game spin-off was announced back in September, including Marvel’s Chris Pratt as Mario and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Charlie Day as Luigi.

Speaking to ET, Taylor-Joy explained how she’s getting to know her role as Nintendo’s damsel-in-distress Princess Peach.

“Oh, it is so much fun,” she explained. “We started doing little bits and pieces of it already. The greatest part is that I get to say I am doing homework or work or research just by gaming, which is pretty great.”

“I have to!” Anya insisted. “The fan base is so intense, of course I have to do it. It’s so much fun.”

The actress will also star alongside Jumanji’s Jack Black as supervillain Bowser, Kung Fu Panda’s Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong and The Prom’s Keegan-Michael Key as Toad.

Charles Martinet, the original voice actor for Mario, Luigi, Wario and Waluigi, will also cameo in the new animated film adaptation.

While Anya Taylor-Joy became a household name with her role in The Queen’s Gambit, she has actually done voice acting previously, in Playmobil: The Movie and Netflix’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.

Taylor-Joy’s latest project is Last Night in Soho, Edgar Wright’s first movie since Baby Driver. The psychological thriller debuted at the Venice Film Festival in September, and has received mostly positive reviews.

Jojo Rabbit’s Thomasin McKenzie, Doctor Who’s Matt Smith and Superman’s Terence Stamp also star.

The Super Mario Bros film is currently untitled, but is planned for release on December 21, 2022.