The Super Mario Galaxy Movie features the first meeting between Mario and Fox McCloud outside of the Super Smash Bros. franchise. But this odd pairing of Nintendo icons was seemingly foreshadowed nearly three decades ago in promotional art for Taco Bell.
On X, Slavko ShyGuy shared a picture of Mario and Fox from Taco Bell’s 1997 Nintendo 64 promotion. There wasn’t any deeper meaning behind the pairing at the time, it’s just kind of fun to see them together two years before the original Super Smash Bros. game was released
Random, silly post. But I just realized something…..
Taco Bell predicted the Galaxy Movie in 1997! LOL!! 🌮🤣🦊 pic.twitter.com/3HAYTzrlwE— Slavko ShyGuy (@MarioSimpson64) April 7, 2026
As another user pointed out, Taco Bell’s promo pics could also be fun to revisit by adding Killer Instinct Gold’s Fulgore and a Stormtrooper from Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire for the inevitable third Mario movie.
Third Super Mario Bros movie spoilers pic.twitter.com/Qv6zqPaMiB
— Greedy Avatar (@deltared1994) April 8, 2026
Nintendo and Illumination were reportedly planning a Donkey Kong animated film even before The Super Mario Galaxy Movie debuted with a massive opening weekend. Given that response, more Nintendo animated films are likely to follow. One of the reasons that Glen Powell landed the part of Fox McCloud in the sequel is probably because he told Illumination boss Chris Meledandri that he wanted to star in a Star Fox movie. Shigeru Miyamoto eventually signed off on Powell’s guest appearance as Fox despite Nintendo’s reluctance to mix its gaming properties outside of Smash Bros. titles.
In other Star Fox news, Nintendo may announce Fox McCloud’s first game in a decade later this month.