Playing off the success of his starring role as Joel in HBO's hit show The Last Of Us, Pascal took a different turn guest hosting Saturday Night Live over the weekend.

The Mandalorian star debuted a trailer for his 'next' upcoming (albeit fake) gritty TV drama adapted from an iconic video game - Mario Kart.

In the mock SNL parody, Pascal portrays a perfect brooding Mario tasked with delivering "important cargo" Princess Peach (Chloe Fineman) to Rainbow Road. Just like characters Ellie and Joel in The Last Of Us, they can't hope to make it across what we're assuming is the Mushroom Kingdom on-foot... that's where his trademark go-kart comes in.

Looking out at the apocalyptic sight from the passenger seat, Princess Peach asks Mario, "What's it like out here?"

"Karting out here isn't a game. If we're going to make it, we're going to need all the help we can get," Mario responds.

As the two race across the kingdom, they meet some familiar-yet-wasteland-weary friends and foes - like Toad, Yoshi and of course, a shotgun-toting Luigi.

IN OTHER NEWS

HBO's The Last of Us (available locally on Binge) has received outstanding critical acclaim, as well as viewership, with its premiere out-rating every other new HBO show since 2010, except for House of the Dragon.

The TV adaptation of the equally-lauded Sony Playstation video game was renewed for a second season last month - after episode two debuted.

The clever SNL Mario Kart spoof hides a load of Easter eggs for eagle-eyed Nintendo fans, so give it a watch in full above and tell us what you thought of the trailer.

Should TV networks greenlight it into production faster than a speed boost mushroom? Comment below.