The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is expanding Illumination’s animated movie franchise in new ways, and that could mean the inclusion of another major video game character from Nintendo’s vast library. It’s already been known that the sequel will include more Mario-related characters with the addition of Bowser Jr., Rosalina, and Yoshi, who join Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Bowser, Toad, and more.
But after The Super Mario Bros. Movie included Donkey Kong and had references to plenty of other Nintendo characters, who else could make a surprise appearance in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has been a lingering question. There will surely be some surprises as the main characters traverse the cosmos and visit different planets. The movie’s marketing has now left many convinced that none other than Fox McCloud will appear.
Illumination and Nintendo are in the final stage of promoting The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and that’s brought them to release a new 30-second spot. And two seconds in, a mysterious new character is shown on the left for a split second. Check it out below:
With the figure standing on the left of Yoshi, Toad, Mario, Princess Peach, and Luigi, they can all be ruled out as being the identity of the new character. Not much of the person is seen, but there is a green and white base to the design, as well as some piece of technology strapped to the side of what is presumably their leg. That’s led to the prevailing theory that this is Fox McCloud, the main star of the Star Fox video game series.
Some fans have argued this could be Bowser in some sort of contraption or even Toad’s backpack. But there is a striking resemblance to Fox’s costume present here. We could be looking at his classic green pants, with his gun strapped to the side. It is far from confirmed that Fox McCloud is appearing in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, but it looks like a much more likely possibility after this tease.
Why Fox McCloud Appearing In The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Would Make Sense
Should this really be Nintendo’s popular piloting fox, there would be some logic behind this appearance. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is, by its very concept, a story that will see the story go far beyond places in and around the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario will be visiting many different cosmic locations as he helps Rosalina.
Interplanetary adventures are right up Fox McCloud’s alley. It’d be quite reasonable for Mario to encounter the anthropomorphic fox and get a helping hand from him, even if it’s as simple as giving Team Mario a ride to the Comet Observatory. This could even pave the way for the entire Star Fox team to cameo in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
A Fox McCloud role in any capacity would also be another step forward for Illumination when it comes to building an entire Nintendo Cinematic Universe of animated adventures. Just as Donkey Kong is getting his own film after The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Fox’s appearance here could serve as a backdoor pilot for a Star Fox franchise.
For that reason, it’ll be quite exciting if Fox McCloud winds up appearing in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, whether this specific shot winds up being our first glimpse at him or not.
- Release Date
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April 1, 2026
- Director
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Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic
- Writers
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Matthew Fogel