Nintendo and Illumination have confirmed that Fox McCloud will appear in Super Mario Galaxy, marking the first official crossover between the Mario film universe and the Star Fox franchise. The announcement follows weeks of speculation sparked by a brief, easily missed shot in an earlier trailer, and it has quickly become one of the most talked-about developments surrounding the upcoming film.
According to Variety, the reveal positions Fox—best known as the leader of the Star Fox team and pilot of the Arwing spacecraft—as a new addition to Mario’s expanding cinematic world. No voice actor has been announced, but the character’s inclusion signals a broader shift in the franchise’s scope.
Fox originated in Nintendo’s 1993 Star Fox game and has since appeared across multiple titles, including Star Fox 64 and every installment of the Super Smash Bros. series, where he fights alongside characters like Mario, Luigi, and Donkey Kong.
The crossover also aligns with Nintendo’s long-standing approach of connecting its properties through shared appearances. Fox has been a consistent presence in Super Smash Bros. since its 1999 debut.
That legacy now appears to be extending to the big screen. The character, created by Shigeru Miyamoto and designed by Takaya Imamura, has remained a recognizable figure across games, comics, and other media, often depicted as a skilled pilot leading missions across the Lylat System.
While Nintendo has not detailed Fox’s role in Super Mario Galaxy, earlier teaser footage hinted at a larger network of crossover elements. A previous preview included what appeared to be a Pikmin—associated with Captain Olimar—fueling speculation that multiple Nintendo franchises could intersect within the film.
The film itself has already introduced several major additions to the Mario universe. Trailers have showcased Princess Rosalina, the cosmic guardian first introduced in the 2007 Super Mario Galaxy game, as well as Bowser Jr., who appears to play a central role in the story.
