Sony officially revealed Chris Pratt’s voicing role as Garfield in the latest trailer for The Garfield Movie, and fan reception is mixed. Many find the news unsurprising given the actor’s recent role as Mario in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, while others are outraged with yet another unbefitting voice for another beloved character. This controversial casting has since brought attention to an ongoing issue in the movie industry: Hollywood needs to stop casting Chris Pratt.

Chris Pratt saw his debut in the feature film industry in 2014 with the success of The Lego Movie and Guardians of the Galaxy. The positive reception from his acting assisted in reprising the same roles later on, and led to more prominent roles in notable franchises such as Jurassic World. Through his newfound celebrity status, he continued appearing in more and more modern movies.

Although Pratt continues his prodigious work, the public is tired of seeing him in “every” movie they watch. While this is justified when Chris Pratt plays the same character, many find it frustrating whenever he takes on newer roles with ease. This leads into another pressing issue many have with Chris Pratt: is he deserving of the roles he plays?

In a consequence.net article titled “Why is Chris Pratt Voicing Mario?”, the author notes that while Pratt’s voice for Mario is respectful, straying from the stereotypical Italian accent of the plumber in the games, he does not attempt to expand on the voice. Specifically, “He can be heard muttering ‘What is this place?’ in the same voice as Star-Lord, Andy Dwyer, or whatever his character is named in the Jurassic Park franchise.” 

Additionally, devoted Garfield fans adore Lorenzo Music’s first portrayal of Garfield on television in 1980’s animated specials. When Bill Murray was cast in the 2004 Garfield film, fans enjoyed his vocal performance since it gave the laid-back, lazy attitude Music used in the original.

While Chris Pratt is somewhat justified in his voice portrayal of Mario, it does not explain his lackluster voice performance for Garfield, in which he seems to barely make an effort to differentiate his voice. As a result, many believe another actor should take on the role.

Despite these issues, some people do not see the harm in Chris Pratt’s ubiquitous performances. After all, it is not the end of the world if a voice feels out of place. However, these people fail to realize the issue goes beyond a voice: it sets an example for the movie industry. Instead of actors being cast for their vocal talents, they are simply cast for their popularity or shock value from their inclusion. 

Recasting Garfield with another actor would not only bring life to the role, but give the actor deserved attention rather than recognizing an already famous celebrity like Chris Pratt. For that reason alone, Hollywood should stop casting Chris Pratt in order to make room for new actors dedicated to voice acting.