Antonio Banderas To Play ‘Super Mario’ In Chilean Miners Movie

Antonio Banderas will be playing “Super Mario” in an upcoming movie.

But no, the Desperado actor won’t be using an Italian accent, jumping on goombas, and kicking around turtle shells in a movie based on the classic video game. Banderas will be playing Mario Sepulveda, aka “Super Mario,” in a movie about the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped underground for months in 2010.

Mike Medavoy, one of the producers for The 33, made the casting announcement this weekend at the Cannes Film Festival. The news has already spread to Sepulveda who said that he was excited to see Banderas in the new movie.

Sepulveda said: “I’m very excited and full of anxiety. All of my mates are looking forward to this big production … Banderas is very charismatic. I like him a lot and I think this movie is going to make him even more famous than he already is.”

According to Deadline, Martin Sheen and Rodrigo Santoro are also attached to star in the new movie. Patricia Riggen will direct and the movie will start shooting this fall.

The Chilean miners were trapped underground for 69 days. Sepulveda said that the experience made him appreciate being alive and that he is now more focused on enjoying the people around him.

Sepulveda said: “There are people who don’t realize the value of what they have next to them. And after those 69 days we know that there’s nothing as important as being alive, being healthy and enjoying the people you love while you’re alive.”

[Image Via cinemafestival / Shutterstock.com]