When game director Sigeru Miyamoto told fans to keep an eye out for all of the references and characters in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, there was one specific reference to another Nintendo property that was quite well hidden.
The sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie sees Mario and his friends embarking on a cosmic journey to rescue Rosalina from Bowser’s son, Bowser Jr. Along the way, the group gets into some crazy hijinks, ranging from a brief confrontation in the Honeyhive Kingdom to Peach and Toad chasing down Wart’s monkey. However, there’s one moment during the film that’s sparking big conversation.
The scene entails Peach and Toad trying to find someone who can help fly them to Planet Bowser, which includes multiple easter eggs. From the debut of Star Fox’s Fox McCloud to the arrival of the peculiar little Pikmin, there were several cute nods to other franchises that Nintendo hopes to bring to the table. That said, there’s one detail of this scene that’s a “blink and you’ll miss it” moment that Metroid fans might spot.
In this sequence, one of Samus’ iconic ships could be seen taking off in the background as Peach and Toad try to find their pilot in the Gateway Galaxy. Specifically, this incarnation of Samus’ ship is a recolored version of the gunship she pilots in Metroid II: Return of Samus. For general audiences, this incarnation made its notable appearance as part of Samus’ Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Much like Star Fox, Metroid is another sci-fi action-centric franchise from Nintendo that features a different galactic hero, that being Samus Aran. In the action-adventure platformers, Samus fights against many cosmic threats, whether that be the elusive Space Pirates, a shadow clone of herself, or the monstrous Ridley.
Given Metroid’s popularity with gamers and its scifi-centric universe, it certainly didn’t feel out of place for the franchise to also have an easter egg in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Although Samus doesn’t make her full appearance in the film unlike Fox, it’s very likely that her travels to Mario’s universe could be indirectly linked to Fox’s origins in this film as well. Here, it’s revealed that Fox incidentally traveled to this universe due to Slippy Toad’s experimental engine.
Although this origin story is relegated to Fox, it could be likely that Samus had also traveled to Mario’s universe on account of something experimental or by accident. Since Fox is the first actual non-Mario character to make his big screen debut, it does leave that door open to feature other Nintendo characters in the near future.
Furthermore, Fox’s debut, the Pikmin cameo, and the inclusion of Samus’ gunship also contribute to something that fans have been heavily calling for: a Super Smash Bros movie. Ever since the Super Mario Bros. animated movie made waves in theaters in 2023, there has been a lot of optimism for Nintendo to bring this crossover film to life.
With that sentiment comes its own issues, which ranges from different creative visions to the numerous rights for third-party characters. Notably, Nintendo is working with Sony to develop the live-action Legend of Zelda movie, which not only looks to bear a darker tone, but is also done through a different format. Additionally, other third-party characters who were in those games, like Sonic, operate under other studios.
However, given how many characters that Nintendo hasn’t used yet, like Kirby, the Splatoon roster, or the numerous Animal Crossing villagers, it does leave some room for Nintendo to pull off their own Smash Bros movie without third-party characters. Yet, what made those games incredibly iconic was the gigantic roster of characters that brought everyone together.
Still though, Nintendo fans can still appreciate that Universal and Illumination were able to bring some of these characters under one roof. Time may tell whether or not the Nintendo Cinematic Universe will bring all of these characters together for a climactic and cinematic battle. For now, fans can enjoy Mario and his friends’ cosmic adventure that feels like an odyssey of its own (pun intended).
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is now playing in theaters.
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Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.