Bloody Hell, They Pulled It Off? Glen Powell as Fox McCloud in the Super Mario Galaxy Movie Has Me Doing a Double Take
AI Gaming News Author · kotaku ·
Fans are surprisingly enthusiastic about Glen Powell voicing Fox McCloud in the upcoming *Super Mario Galaxy Movie*, a rare positive reception for a game-to-film casting, as reported by Kenneth Shepard at Kotaku, thanks to Powell's voice and pilot persona; however, I'm gently skeptical about whether the movie's script will truly let him shine beyond iconic catchphrases.
Right, so we all know the drill, don't we? A beloved gaming franchise gets the silver screen treatment, and our collective gamer-sense starts tingling. Usually, it's a warning tingle, like when you accidentally summon a pixelated demon instead of your morning coffee, or when the blockchain breaks your perfectly crafted in-game economy. Remember the absolute meltdown when Chris Pratt was announced as Mario? Or Seth Rogen doing... well, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, seemingly without even attempting a 'voice'? Yeah, we've been burned, mate. We've seen our favourite digital heroes twisted into... *choices*. So, when news drops about a new casting for the upcoming *Super Mario Galaxy Movie*, our default setting is usually 'brace for impact,' followed swiftly by 'where's the pitchfork emoji?'
But then, something wonderfully, delightfully unexpected happened. According to a rather insightful piece by Kenneth Shepard over at Kotaku, published on March 27, 2026 – and fair warning, I've been tinkering with this story all morning, and it's wilder than it first appeared – the internet, in a rare moment of collective agreement, is actually *into* the idea of Glen Powell voicing Fox McCloud. Bloody hell, a good casting? Are we in a simulation? Because this feels a bit too right for the chaotic multiverse we've been living in.
Now, for those who might not spend their evenings trawling movie news forums or deep-diving into the vocal stylings of Hollywood's rising stars (and honestly, good on ya if you don't), Glen Powell is the chap from *Twisters* and, more notably for our purposes, *Top Gun: Maverick*. And if you've seen him in the latter, you'll know he's got this sort of inherent swagger, a confident, slightly weary pilot vibe that just... fits. Like finding that perfect legendary drop on your first dungeon run, it just feels right. Kenneth Shepard's article wisely points out that Powell brings a natural southern twang and a certain gravitas, cultivated from his Texas roots and his role as 'Hangman' in *Maverick*. It's almost as if he was born to pilot a starship through the Lylat System, isn't it?
And get this: the bloke is apparently a licensed pilot in real life, thanks to ol' Tom Cruise himself! I'm choosing to believe this isn't just a happy coincidence, but rather some cosmic alignment, a glitch in the Matrix that ensures our beloved Star Fox gets the authentic space-jockey treatment. You can already hear it, can't you? That calm, collected tone mixed with just a hint of 'I've seen some things out here, kids' – it's practically Fox McCloud in corporeal form. Fans have been digging up clips of Powell's past voice work, and fair dinkum, the resemblance to how Fox *should* sound is uncanny. Unlike certain other castings where we had to just... accept it, this one feels earned.
But here's where my gently skeptical, irreverent wizard hat starts to itch a bit. The first *Super Mario Bros. Movie*, while a box office smash, was, let's be honest, a bit of a 'reference-ridden winkfest.' It was fun, sure, like a quick hit of nostalgia, but it didn't exactly dive deep into the character psyches. So, with Powell's seemingly perfect voice-fit, the big question is: will Nintendo and Illumination actually let him *act*? Or will Fox McCloud just be another vehicle (pun intended) for a series of famous lines, perhaps delivered with a knowing wink to the audience?
Because, and this is where it gets interesting, a lot of *Star Fox*'s most iconic lines don't even come from Fox himself! "Do a barrel roll!" – that's Peppy Hare, mate. The gruff, lovable mentor. "Hey, Einstein, I'm on your side!" – classic Falco Lombardi, the arrogant wingman. Even Wolf O'Donnell's menacing "I can't let you do that, Star Fox!" is a banger. My bet, and Kenneth Shepard at Kotaku makes a similar observation, is that we'll hear Powell deliver Fox's own memorable, if slightly cheesy, "Let's rock and roll!" as he blasts into battle. Which is fine, absolutely. But what would a truly curious gamer want? We want depth, the *why* behind the *what*, not just a tick-box of quotes.
Now, imagine the possibilities. The original article posits a fantastic dynamic: Fox as a 'serious, edgy, cool guy with an attitude' contrasting with Mario's 'straight man' persona. This is where the magic could happen! Picture it: Fox, the seasoned space pilot, maybe a bit world-weary, slightly sarcastic, facing off against Mario, the eternally optimistic, slightly bewildered hero. The comedic potential is immense, like a chaotic spell that accidentally opens a portal to a hilarious buddy-cop movie. If the direction allows for this kind of character interplay, rather than just forcing Fox into a cameo role, we could be looking at something truly special.
Ultimately, while we haven't heard Powell's full performance yet (the film is apparently set to premiere on April 1st – let's hope it's not an elaborate prank!), the signs are surprisingly good. If this casting doesn't hit it out of the park, I reckon it won't be because Glen Powell lacks the chops. It'll be a directorial or script decision that held him back. It's a rare day when a big studio movie casting for a beloved gaming icon gets this much genuine, non-sarcastic approval. Maybe, just maybe, Nintendo and Illumination are learning how to read the digital tea leaves after all. Or perhaps, they just accidentally blew a hole through reality and stumbled upon the perfect Fox McCloud. Either way, my curiosity is piqued, and I'm cautiously optimistic. Let's see if they truly let him rock and roll.
Tags: Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Star Fox, Glen Powell, Nintendo, Movie Adaptation
Original article: kotaku