Courtney Lin Takes Over as Princess Peach Voice in Mario Franchise
Discover fresh voices in the Mario universe with Laila Berzins as Toad, Laura Stahl as Toadette, and Paul Castro Jr. as male Toads—exciting updates await!
New Voice Actors Announced for 'Mario Kart World'
Exciting changes are happening in the voice cast of Mario Kart World, the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 game set to release on June 5. Several talented voice actors have stepped into new roles, replacing familiar voices.
Key Voice Changes:
- Princess Peach and Baby Peach: Voice actress Courtney Lin announced on X/Twitter that she is the new voice of Princess Peach and Baby Peach, replacing Samantha Kelly.
- Main Toad: Laila Berzins revealed she is now the voice of the main Toad, also replacing Kelly.
- Toadette: Laura Stahl shared that she is the new voice of Toadette.
- Male Toads: Paul Castro Jr. announced he is voicing the male Toad characters.
Kelly, who previously voiced Princess Peach and Toad since Mario Strikers Charged in 2007, shared on Instagram on June 10 that Nintendo had replaced her in these roles for Mario Kart World. Before Kelly, Jen Taylor voiced these characters starting from Mario Golf in 1999, with Nicole Mills also voicing Princess Peach in some titles.
Broader Voice Actor Changes in the Franchise
- Mario and Luigi: Kevin Afghani took over as the voice of Mario and Luigi starting with Super Mario Bros. Wonder, released last October. He also voices Wario and Waluigi in Mario Kart World.
- Charles Martinet: The legendary voice of Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi, announced in August 2024 that he is stepping back from recording roles, transitioning to the role of "Mario Ambassador".
Background
Charles Martinet has been the iconic voice behind Nintendo’s beloved characters since the franchise's early days. His departure marks a significant change for fans who have grown up hearing his voice.
Sources:
- Courtney Lin's X/Twitter account
- Paul Castro Jr.'s X/Twitter account
- Laila Berzins' X/Twitter account
- Laura Stahl's X/Twitter account
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting new chapter in Nintendo's voice cast!