A press tour stop for Super Mario Galaxy took an unexpected turn when Charlie Day joked that Luigi Mangione ranks just behind himself on the all-time Luigi list.
According to TMZ, Day, who voices Luigi, was appearing in Tokyo alongside co-stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Keegan-Michael Key for the comedy podcast Tintoria when the hosts asked him who his favorite Luigi in “recent American history” might be. The question immediately drew laughs from the cast, and Day leaned into it.
“I’m top of the Luigi game,” Day said, before adding that Mangione was his second choice.
Taylor-Joy appeared to suppress a laugh, while Key broke into open laughter beside him. The clip spread quickly online because of the contrast between Day’s lighthearted answer and the serious legal case surrounding Mangione.
Mangione has been in custody since late 2024 after being charged in connection with the killing of Brian Thompson, the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare. He is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn while facing both state and federal charges.
Earlier this year, a federal judge dismissed two of the four federal counts against him, removing the possibility of the death penalty. His state murder trial is now scheduled to begin on Sept. 8, while federal jury selection is set for Oct. 5, with opening statements expected later that month.
Defense attorneys have been pushing to delay the federal case, arguing that preparing for two major trials at nearly the same time would be difficult. Prosecutors, meanwhile, continue to focus on evidence that allegedly includes anti-insurance writings found in a notebook and a firearm recovered from a backpack.
In the Super Mario Galaxy world, Luigi and his friends are dealing with much lighter stakes. The animated sequel, which opened this week, sends Mario, Luigi, Peach, Rosalina, and Bowser Jr. across a galaxy of Nintendo-inspired worlds.
Early reviews have described the film as visually ambitious and packed with references for longtime fans. Critics have also pointed to Luigi as one of the film’s central figures, with Day reprising the role he first voiced in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
