Nintendo could be creating its own cinematic universe if fans are correct about a specific shot in the new Super Mario Galaxy trailer that appears to show a familiar face.
The Super Mario Galaxy movie is set to debut on April 1 after the first animated Mario film’s success, becoming one of the highest-grossing movies ever made.
With The Legend of Zelda movie in production and Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa saying they want to “build a structure” that allows them to keep making films beyond those two franchises, fans have been eager to find out what’s next in the (warp) pipeline.
This leads us to the newest Super Mario Galaxy trailer. Although it mostly contains footage that has already been released, there is one frame that has people freaking out.
Fox McCloud seemingly spotted in Mario Galaxy – is a Smash Bros movie next?
Just two-seconds into the footage, a character who looks an awful lot like Fox McCloud – the leader of the Star Fox team – is shown alongside Yoshi, Toad, Mario, Peach, and Luigi.
Fox McCloud is the leader of the Star Fox team, one of Nintendo’s most beloved franchises that first debuted on the SNES. The game features a squad of anthropomorphic space animals trying to save the Lylat system from the evil Andross. Throughout the years, there have been a handful of Star Fox games, including a remaster of the fan-favorite Star Fox 64 on the 3DS.
While we can’t confirm it’s Fox, the white vest, green shirt, and blaster don’t match any other character. If it is Fox, the shot also appears carefully crafted to avoid showing the back of their head or their tail.
Fans were still quick to spot the detail and have drawn their own conclusions, with one big theory being, as one user asked, “Is Illumination planning a Nintendo Cinematic Universe?”
Back in 2023, insider DanielRPK claimed that Illumination shared a pitch to Nintendo to create a shared universe, eventually leading to a massive Avengers-style Super Smash Bros teamup.
A Smash Bros movie has been brought up before. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 director Jeff Fowler also expressed interest in making the film, highlighting the rivalry between the Sega and Nintendo mascots.
Sonic voice actor Ben Schwartz has also claimed a Super Smash Bros movie is getting closer to becoming reality.
Outside of films, Shuntaro Furukawa also indicated that Nintendo isn’t ruling out anime adaptations of its franchises.
We’ll have to wait and see what the future holds, but for Star Fox fans hungry for something to happen with the dormant series, this latest discovery has them barrel rolling in delight.
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