Fox McCloud in Mario: Nintendo's Galaxy Gamble
How Star Fox icon split critics and surprised Miyamoto. The story behind the 37 Metascore film.
On cinema screens, it lies dead. Not the hero, but the score. A 37 Metascore is a near-obituary for a film from a franchise that has sold hundreds of millions of games. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is currently Nintendo's worst-reviewed film adaptation. Its grave was dug by critics at GameSpot, calling it "a triumph or a trainwreck, depending on who you ask". But where is that divide? The answer lies in one, small pilot from the Lylat system.
"I felt that I wanted to see that... I thought there would be significant resistance, but a lot of people saw a lot of potential with it."— Shigeru Miyamoto
That word "wanted" is the key. Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of Mario and Nintendo's godfather of games, didn't just accept the idea. He asked for it. When Illumination proposed a Fox McCloud cameo, Nintendo creators "generally avoid mixing IPs, except for the Pikmin cameo," as Miyamoto admitted. But this was different. The space setting, the film's scope, and his own creative curiosity pushed him to lobby for the inclusion of the Star Fox protagonist.
What happened in that boardroom? We don't know for sure. We know the resistance he expected never came. Instead—enthusiasm. The internal tension between brand purity and creative surprise collapsed under the weight of a simple question: "What if it's great?". The decision was made. Fox was flying into the cinema.
Glen Powell and a childhood dream
In parallel, in Hollywood, something equally rare was happening. Glen Powell, star of Top Gun: Maverick, didn't wait for a casting call. He offered himself. "He explained that we had to understand how deeply he loved the character of Fox McCloud. His dream was one day to be part of a Star Fox movie," explains Chris Meledandri, Illumination's CEO. This authentic passion, this direct plea from an actor who is a fan, became the final, human argument. Fox was no longer just "foreign IP". He was Glen's dream, which Nintendo could finally fulfill.
Who is the victim?
But for every creative gamble, there is a victim. For many fans, the victim was Rosalina. The princess from the nebula, the heart and memory of Super Mario Galaxy, was sidelined by the fox pilot. "Larson's Rosalina is the main victim, being inexplicably sidelined for large chunks of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" reads a GamesRadar review. This isn't just about screen time. It's a symbol. When you mix IPs, something must give. Sometimes it's canon purity; sometimes—the depth of the original character.
A divided world
And so, a film with a 37 Metascore was born. For critics—chaotic, overstuffed, soulless. For some fans—bold, heartfelt, fulfilling childhood dreams. Nintendo, with Miyamoto at the helm, bet on a creative gamble and lost in the eyes of the film establishment. But they won something else: a story. About how a gaming icon, to see his fox guardian on the big screen, first had to convince himself. And how an outsider actor made them believe in it.
This is not a story of failure. It's a story about the cost of inspiration. And about how even Nintendo sometimes listens to the whisper of its own curiosity, not just the shout of its brand.
FAQ
Was Fox McCloud's inclusion initiated by Miyamoto?
Yes. Shigeru Miyamoto himself requested his inclusion after receiving the proposal from Illumination and conducted internal lobbying at Nintendo to ensure the character fit the film's vision.
Why did critics dislike the film so much?
Critics accuse it of a chaotic plot, overloading with other IP cameos, and making Fox McCloud a central figure at the expense of Rosalina, which many feel ruins the emotional spirit of the original game.
How did Glen Powell get the role of Fox?
Glen Powell directly contacted Illumination and Nintendo, expressing his long-time passion for the character Fox McCloud and his desire to voice him, which eventually convinced the producers.
Will these reviews impact future Nintendo films?
There is speculation that the low Metascore might lead Nintendo to be more cautious in future collaborations, although the film's strong box office performance suggests that the brand's appeal remains largely independent of critical consensus.
