Nintendo just fired the starting pistol on its own crossover era: Glen Powell is officially voicing Fox McCloud in the upcoming Super Mario Galaxy Movie, bringing the Star Fox ace pilot into Mario’s cosmic adventure. For a studio that played it safe for decades with its IP, this casting is a loud, confident signal that the Nintendo cinematic universe is no longer a theory—it’s happening.

Glen Powell and Super Mario Galaxy promotional collage
Glen Powell joins the Super Mario Galaxy Movie voice cast as Fox McCloud, expanding Nintendo’s cinematic universe. Image: Variety.

A Surprising Crossover in Nintendo’s New Movie Era

Bringing a non–Mario character like Fox McCloud into a Mario Galaxy story is a bold move that blends childhood nostalgia with modern franchise strategy. It taps directly into the current pop culture moment, where connected universes are the norm, but it also leans on Glen Powell’s rising star power to sell the idea beyond core gamers.


Glen Powell as Fox McCloud: Inspired or Risky Casting?

Glen Powell has quietly become Hollywood’s go-to for charismatic, slightly cocky heroes—from Top Gun: Maverick to his recent rom-com and action runs. On paper, that energy lines up almost perfectly with Fox McCloud: skilled, confident, sometimes headstrong, but ultimately noble.

Voice acting, though, is a different discipline from on-camera charm. The performance will live or die on whether Powell can balance Fox’s fighter-jock swagger with the warmth needed to stand alongside Mario, Peach, and the rest without feeling like he wandered in from a different movie.

“The ‘Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ is assembling even more A-list voice actors as Glen Powell will bring to life Fox McCloud, the surprise Nintendo character joining the Mario Bros.”
  • Powell’s aviation-heavy résumé makes him a playful fit for a spacefaring pilot.
  • His increasingly bankable name helps Nintendo appeal to non-gamer audiences.
  • The role could set the tone for a future standalone Star Fox film or spin-off series.

What a Super Mario Galaxy Movie Means for Nintendo’s Film Strategy

Super Mario Galaxy is a smart follow-up to The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The games already lean hard into spectacle: planetoids, gravity-bending puzzles, and a symphonic score that fans still rave about. Translating that into a feature film gives Illumination and Nintendo a canvas that can compete visually with the likes of Pixar and DreamWorks.

Stylized galaxy representing the world of Super Mario Galaxy
The cosmic setting of Super Mario Galaxy gives Nintendo’s movie arm a visually ambitious playground.

The inclusion of Fox suggests that Nintendo isn’t content with one-off nostalgia plays. Instead, it’s edging toward a connective web of stories—more in line with how Marvel and DC approached their worlds, but with a distinctly family-friendly, game-first spin.

  1. World-building: Starships and Lumas can plausibly share the same sky when you’re already hopping between planets.
  2. Merchandising: A film that features both Mario and Fox is a cross-promotional dream.
  3. Future-proofing: Introducing Fox here plants seeds for standalone Star Fox stories later.

Fox McCloud: From SNES Legend to Big-Screen Co‑Star

For players of a certain age, Fox McCloud is synonymous with the SNES and N64 eras—tight rail-shooter missions, branching paths, and the immortal command: “Do a barrel roll!” Yet, compared to Mario or Zelda, Star Fox has been sporadically supported by Nintendo in recent years.

Fox McCloud’s roots trace back to the SNES era, where Star Fox pushed 3D graphics on Nintendo hardware.

Moving Fox into a Mario-branded movie does a few things culturally:

  • Reintroduces the character to younger audiences who may never have touched a Star Fox game.
  • Frames him less as a niche sci-fi lead and more as part of Nintendo’s “main cast.”
  • Signals that Nintendo hasn’t forgotten about its dormant but beloved series.
“Fox is one of those characters who lives rent‑free in gamers’ memories. Putting him in a Mario movie is like reuniting an old friend with a much bigger crowd.” – an industry commentator reacting to the casting news

Is Nintendo Building Its Own Cinematic Universe?

If Fox McCloud can show up in a Super Mario Galaxy movie, the door is wide open for future crossovers. We’re suddenly in a world where Samus Aran, Kirby, or even Captain Falcon appearing on the big screen no longer feels outlandish.

Cinema seats hinting at a growing Nintendo cinematic universe
Nintendo’s push into film hints at a slow‑burn approach to an interconnected universe of its iconic franchises.

That said, Nintendo has historically moved cautiously with its brands. Rather than rushing into a massive crossover event, the company seems more likely to:

  • Use cameos like Fox as low‑risk tests of audience interest.
  • Gauge which characters resonate most with non-gaming viewers.
  • Gradually step toward bigger ensemble projects only if the appetite is clearly there.

From an industry standpoint, this is Nintendo threading a needle: capitalizing on shared-universe hype without burning out fans or cheapening its characters into mere IP widgets.


Strengths, Questions, and Potential Weak Spots

On paper, this announcement comes with obvious upsides but also a few creative risks.

What’s Working in Nintendo’s Favor

  • Star power: Glen Powell adds contemporary buzz and press appeal.
  • Built‑in chemistry: A pilot hero in a cosmic Mario story is thematically coherent, not random.
  • Fan service with purpose: Fox isn’t just a background Easter egg; he’s a character with story potential.

Potential Weaknesses to Watch

  • Tonal balance: Mario’s world leans silly and slapstick; Star Fox is more space-opera. Blending them without losing either flavor will be tricky.
  • Screen time: If Fox is underused, fans may see this as hollow fan service. If he dominates, Mario loyalists could feel sidelined.
  • Voice expectations: Long-time players have a mental version of Fox’s voice. Powell’s take needs to feel fresh without being unrecognizable.
Person holding a game controller watching a movie, blending gaming and film
As games and films intertwine, maintaining tonal balance is crucial to satisfying both audiences.

Trailer, First Look, and Where to Follow Updates

At the time of this announcement, the focus is squarely on casting news rather than full footage. A teaser trailer featuring Powell’s Fox McCloud would likely be Nintendo’s big swing—both to reassure fans and to show how comfortably he fits into the Galaxy aesthetic.

Until then, the best places to keep tabs on verified updates are:


Final Take: A Barrel Roll into Nintendo’s Future

Glen Powell voicing Fox McCloud in the Super Mario Galaxy Movie is more than a fun headline; it’s a small but telling pivot point for Nintendo. The company is experimenting with a fuller, more interconnected version of its worlds on the big screen, testing how far it can stretch nostalgia without snapping it.

Silhouette of a movie audience watching a colorful screen
All eyes will be on how Nintendo balances fan nostalgia with fresh storytelling in its expanding movie slate.

If Powell’s Fox lands with audiences, expect this to be the start of a much broader conversation about which Nintendo icons are next in line for their own close‑up—and how many of them might share the same star-filled sky.

As of now, the move looks savvy: culturally tuned-in casting, a visually ambitious setting, and a crossover that makes more sense the longer you sit with it. Whether it becomes a milestone or a missed opportunity will depend on how fearlessly—and thoughtfully—Nintendo commits to the bit.