Donald Glover Voices Yoshi In Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Similar To Vin Diesel's Groot

Published Mar 13, 2026, 1:15 PM EDT

The latest Nintendo Direct for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie revealed that Yoshi will be voiced by Donald Glover. While Glover may not be saying much considering Yoshi's limited vocabulary, his casting does reflect a similar casting decision from another successful franchise.

Donald Glover's Casting As Yoshi Is Similar To Vin Diesel's Role As Groot In Guardians Of The Galaxy

Glover is the latest addition to the cast of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, joining other newcomers, including Brie Larson as Rosalina, Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr., Luis Guzmán as Wart, and Issa Rae as Honey Queen. The Community actor's casting is intriguing as Yoshi's vocabulary is limited.

In the video games, Yoshi is primarily known for saying only his name and making various noises. From the trailers for the upcoming sequel, it looks like the movie is taking the same approach to the character. His vocabulary is similar to Groot's from the Guardians of the Galaxy films, who would mainly say "I am Groot."

Groot was voiced by Vin Diesel, who brought his deep, booming voice to the character. Though his lines were similar, they felt unique, as he still brought charm and humor to each one. Diesel's casting worked because his voice perfectly fit the character, and he knew how to add variations to his delivery.

Glover's casting is similar to Diesel's as they are well-known stars voicing characters who don't say much in franchises starring Pratt. As Diesel did with Groot, Glover can make his version of Yoshi stand out, even with limited dialogue.

Why Glover's Casting Works

Glover is a talented actor who has earned major accolades. He won an Emmy for his leading role in Atlanta, which he also created, and received a nomination for his role in Mr. & Mrs. Smith. He showed his comedic talents in Community, and also starred in high-profile films, like Solo: A Star Wars Story and 2019's The Lion King.

Even if he is only saying "Yoshi," Glover can find a way to deliver his lines in a unique way. There are ways to add emotion to it, or change up the timing for comedic effect. He can match Yoshi's upbeat personality, and give the character a voice that's distinct from the games.

From the trailers, Yoshi doesn't sound like Glover, but he has shown off his vocal range through the music he makes under the name, Childish Gambino. Glover is a man of multiple talents, and it will be interesting to see what he does with his role as Yoshi.