5 Nintendo Movies That Should Follow Super Mario Galaxy

Regardless of what you think about Nintendo and Illumination Entertainment‘s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, two things remain clear: the sequel continues to level up at the box office, and Nintendo won’t tire of making money anytime soon. While Galaxy remains unencumbered by its threadbare plot and preference for nostalgia over substance, Nintendo’s animated output continues to lay the groundwork for a larger universe of films, even if game designer and producer Shigeru Miyamoto says fans shouldn’t expect a Super Smash Bros. movie anytime soon.

For this article, let’s table the idea of bringing a roster of iconic characters together in one movie for an all-out brawl and instead focus on solo adventures to help bolster the NCU (Nintendo Cinematic Universe) one IP at a time.

Here are some directions Nintendo could take the NCU:

Starfox Adventures

After doing barrel rolls with Princess Peach, Mario, and the rest of their party in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Nintendo would be fools not to capitalize on the increasing popularity of Fox McCloud with a high-flying film or television series. Nintendo already has the perfect voice actor, Glen Powell, to reprise the role of Fox McCloud, and the opportunity to cast big-name actors for Falco Lombardi, Peppy Hare, Slippy Toad, Krystal, General Pepper, Wolf O’Donnell, and Andros is there for the taking.

Inspired by films like Star Wars and Top Gun: Maverick, a Starfox Adventures movie could feature Fox McCloud and his crack mercenary team defending the Lylat System from the evil scientist Andross, whose insidious experiments threaten the safety of Planet Corneria and its surrounding stars. Unlike the Super Mario movies, Star Fox Adventures could introduce genuine tension and danger to the NCU, with Fox and his team needing to execute precise teamwork to save the day. Perhaps Peppy Hare retires halfway through the film, making space for Krystal to become the team’s fourth (telepathic) pilot, after crash landing on the dinosaur planet Sauria. Think of the merchandising! Selling replicas of Fox’s Arwing! Plushies of Peppy, Slippy, and the rest of the crew! Sing it with me, Nintendo! Money, money, money, money! Money!

Luigi’s Mansion

This one’s a no-brainer. After giving Luigi a sturdier spine in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, it’s time for the still-timid Mario brother to stop being his own worst enemy by throwing him into a family-friendly horror movie. Here’s the plot: Mario is Missing (remember that gem), and Luigi must team up with Professor E. Gadd while exploring a spooky mansion beset with goofy ghosts, hidden rooms, and a lifetime of playing second-fiddle to overcome. Charlie Day would reprise his role as Luigi, of course, with a high-profile celebrity speaking gibberish for Professor E. Gadd. Think Donald Glover’s limited (but brilliant) performance as Yoshi, but make it science. We’d need a big name for King Boo, the film’s villain, such as Winston Duke of Black Panther fame.

As Luigi explores the mansion, he learns to cope with his perpetual self-doubt, teaching audiences that it’s okay to be scared, but when push comes to shove, everyone can be brave. Naturally, Nintendo wouldn’t want Luigi walking around by himself for the film’s duration, so we’d need to pair him with someone. It’s outside the Luigi’s Mansion game formula, but they could get separated by a trap door, forced to communicate through one of Gadd’s many devices. We can bring Keegan-Michael Key’s Toad along for the ride, give him the screentime he deserves. Oh, or Gooigi! With so many ghosts haunting the Luigi’s Mansion game series, Nintendo could pick the best ones, feature them in the film, and give Luigi the spotlight for a kid-friendly (but still creepy) adventure that helps the green-coded brother shine brighter than his show-stealing counterpart.

Metroid

Help us, Samus Aran, you’re our only hope! If Starfox Adventures takes us deeper into the Nintendo Galaxy, it only makes sense that we find the game studio’s Metroid IP willing to take us on another intergalactic adventure. I envision an animated (or live-action) Metroid movie as Nintendo’s chance to embrace its science-fiction action-adventure franchise with a nonstop thrill ride that finds Samus, a near-silent and skilled bounty hunter, protecting the galaxy from space pirates who seek to harness the power of the parasitic Metroid creatures.

Rendered powerless and with amnesia at the film’s start, the film could focus on Samus recovering her memories and powers while exploring a complex space base, while working alongside the Galactic Federation to preserve peace and prevent Ridley, the “Cunning God of Death,” from uniting a collective of villains, including Mother Brain, Phantoon, and Raven Beak. The Metroid movie could add detective elements to Samus’ character as she attempts to solve the mystery of her depowered state and get revenge on Ridley for murdering her parents. I understand some plot elements of Metroid could be too mature for young audiences, but if Disney can kill countless parental figures in the first five minutes of their classic animated films, so can Nintendo.

Kirby

I’m genuinely shocked that Kirby did not have a cameo in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. I expected him to show up in the same port where Princess Peach meets Fox McCloud, but alas, Nintendo chose not to include everyone’s favorite food-hoovering puff ball in the fun. First and foremost, kids would lose their minds for a Kirby movie. The potential to sell Kirby merch would be endless, with variations of the pink balloon-like cutie pie overtaking department store shelves like an army of pink marshmallows with an insatiable appetite for fun. Imagine the limited edition popcorn bucket! Move over, Yoshi!

One of the cooler aspects of making a Kirby movie is that Nintendo could go hog wild while giving characters like Kirby, Waddle Dee, Meta Knight, Elfilin, Gooey, Hyness, Elline, and King Dedede larger-than-life personalities. The movie could feature Kirby on a mission to protect Dream Land on Planet Popstar from the looming threat of villains like King Dedede, Meta Knight, and other alien entities, such as Dark Matter and Madolor. Because Kirby is thin on plot, that shouldn’t be a problem for Nintendo. However, without a roster of recognizable characters to choose from, the studio would need to get creative and look at Kirby as a world-building opportunity. With a passionate writing team and plenty of objects for Kirby to eat, the pink puffball could transform into anything! The possibilities are literally endless.

F-Zero

This one’s easy. It’s F-Zero, but make it Fast and Furious with a winner-take-all hover car battle as the endgame. Led by characters like Captain Falcon, Jody Summer, Mighty Gazelle, Mrs. Arrow, Kate Alen, Phoenix, Dr. Stewart, Pico, James McCloud, Samurai Goroh, and more, Nintendo could turn its F-Zero property into a high-octane heist movie with racing competition elements. You’d need a bold director for this one. Someone who understands how to depict speed, with inspiration coming from films like Ocean’s Eleven, Days of Thunder, and, of course, the Fast and Furious franchise. It could be an ensemble action adventure with a starry cast and big personalities. While I’m not on Nintendo’s payroll and don’t want to give my ideas away for free, I’m sure someone could write a plot that finds several racers working together to steal a prize that helps the opposing racers rig an upcoming race, one where the winner takes all. Plus, an F-Zero film would give Nintendo an excuse to dust off this classic IP and bring it back for a full revival, something beyond 2023’s excellent F-Zero 99.

What Nintendo games or characters do you think deserve their own place in the Nintendo Cinematic Universe? Let us know in the comments section below.

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