Audiences are currently enjoying The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in theaters, but the film’s surprises extend beyond the adventures of Mario and Luigi. Illumination and Nintendo’s latest animated feature includes returning characters like Birdo and Wart, as well as nostalgic appearances from R.O.B.

Powell’s Passion for Fox McCloud

Donald Glover’s portrayal of Yoshi and Glen Powell’s debut as Fox McCloud have garnered significant attention. Powell’s casting, in particular, hints at potential future plans for the Star Fox franchise. The inclusion of Fox McCloud, a character rarely seen outside of crossover titles like Super Smash Bros., is a notable development.

A Fortuitous Phone Call

Illumination boss Chris Meledandri revealed that Powell proactively reached out to express his deep love for the character. “They started communicating their enthusiasm,” Meledandri told Forbes, alongside Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto. “After the first movie was done, there were two phone calls that came from actors expressing incredible conviction and passion about being involved with Nintendo, and one of them was from Glen Powell.”

Powell reportedly shared his “dream was one day to be part of a Star Fox movie.” Meledandri was surprised to learn of Powell’s passion, as Nintendo and Miyamoto were already discussing including Fox McCloud in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

Initial Resistance to Fox’s Inclusion

Initially, Miyamoto and Nintendo were hesitant about featuring Star Fox in a Mario-centric film. However, Meledandri and Illumination championed the idea, ultimately convincing Miyamoto that it would be a fun way to introduce the character within a space-themed setting.

“As the creator of Star Fox and this movie taking place in space, I felt that I wanted to see that,” Miyamoto explained. “I wanted to see what it would be like, but I also felt that there may be significant resistance internally about that idea.”

Expanding the Nintendo Cinematic Universe

Nintendo has expressed interest in accelerating the production of new films based on its iconic characters. Donald Glover also contacted Illumination after the success of the first Super Mario Bros. Movie, expressing his desire to play Yoshi. Meledandri stated Glover said, “‘I need to be involved, if there’s any way with a Nintendo movie.’”

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is currently playing in theaters. Further updates on Nintendo’s cinematic universe will be shared on Collider.