‘Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Expands With Fox McCloud, Fueling Smash Bros. Speculation

Nintendo’s growing cinematic universe appears to be moving closer to a crossover moment, as the upcoming Super Mario Galaxy Movie adds a familiar face from outside the Mario franchise.

Fox McCloud, the central pilot from the Star Fox franchise, has officially been confirmed as part of the film. The announcement follows weeks of fan speculation sparked by a brief, easily missed appearance in an earlier trailer.

While no voice actor has been attached to the character yet, the inclusion of Fox signals a broader expansion beyond the traditional Mario cast and has intensified theories that Nintendo may be building toward a full-scale Super Smash Bros. crossover on screen.

Fox McCloud debuted in 1993 with the original Star Fox on the Super Nintendo and has remained a recurring figure across the franchise, including titles like Star Fox 64 and later installments. However, for many players, the character is most closely associated with Super Smash Bros., where he has appeared as a playable fighter since the series’ debut in 1999 on the Nintendo 64.

That fighting franchise is known for bringing together characters from across Nintendo’s catalog, including Mario, Link, Donkey Kong, and Kirby, and has long been viewed as a blueprint for a potential cinematic crossover.

The decision to introduce Fox into the Super Mario Galaxy Movie adds to a growing list of references that point in that direction. Earlier promotional material for the film included a brief glimpse of a Pikmin, the small plant-like creatures tied to Captain Olimar from the Pikmin series. That detail, though subtle, suggested that characters beyond the Mario universe were already being seeded into the story. Now, with Fox’s presence confirmed, the film appears to be taking a more direct step toward connecting multiple Nintendo properties.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie itself builds on the success of earlier Mario adaptations, expanding the setting into a more cosmic, exploratory storyline inspired by the Super Mario Galaxy games. That shift in scale, from the Mushroom Kingdom to outer space, also creates a natural entry point for characters like Fox, whose identity is tied to interstellar travel.

The move reflects a broader strategy in franchise filmmaking, where studios establish individual properties before gradually merging them into shared narratives. While Nintendo has not officially announced a Super Smash Bros. movie, the layering of cross-franchise elements suggests long-term planning.

As of now, the studio has not confirmed whether additional non-Mario characters will appear in the film. However, fan speculation has already turned to other possible inclusions, including Samus Aran from Metroid and Captain Falcon, both of whom are key figures in the Super Smash Bros. roster.

Whether those appearances materialize remains unclear, but the direction of the project has become more evident. Rather than functioning solely as a sequel or standalone story, Super Mario Galaxy Movie may serve as a stepping stone toward a larger interconnected universe.

The film is currently scheduled for release on April 1.