The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s Metroid Easter Egg Explained

Warning: Contains spoilers for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie!Star Fox isn’t the only cosmic Nintendo franchise involved in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, as there’s a big link to Metroid, too. Illumination has paved the way for a Nintendo Cinematic Universe through its first two Super Mario movies. The focus has been on Mario and his regular co-stars, but the films have also made sure to include other Nintendo video game characters.

Donkey Kong had a prominent role in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and now Fox McCloud has a big part to play in the sequel. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie uses its cosmic adventure to weave in everyone from the Pikmin to R.O.B. Fox even confirms the existence of an entire Nintendo multiverse that could hold even more classic characters and franchises.

One of Nintendo’s biggest is Samus Aran from the Metroid series, and fans of the property undoubtedly hoped to see her pop up in the background or through The Super Mario Galaxy Movie‘s post-credits scene. Samus can not be seen directly at any point in the movie, either in her Power Suit or Zero Suit.

But it turns out that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie does include a massive reference to the iconic bounty hunter. It’s just very difficult to spot if you don’t know where to look.

Samus’s Gunship Is In The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

The Metroid reference in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie comes during the sequence where Princess Peach and Toad enter a hangar in the Gateway Galaxy. They are looking for a pilot to take them to Junkyard Galaxy, and multiple different ships are seen landing, leaving, or docked in the location.

In the background of one moment, there is a ship taking off that appears to be none other than Samus’s gunship. The ship in question is gold and has a nearly identical shape to the character’s iconic space vessel introduced in Metroid II: Return of Samus. To spot Samus’s gunship for yourself, keep an eye out for the gold ship behind Toad and Peach a few seconds after entering the hangar; a large orange ship lands next to it right before takeoff.

We don’t get to see who is piloting the ship, but given the history this specific one has within Metroid, all signs point to Samus being in the cockpit. After Samus’s gunship leaves the Gateway Galaxy port, it is not seen again for the remainder of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. There are no clues about where it came from, where it is going, or why it traveled to the Gateway Galaxy in the first place.

It is also unclear if Samus Aran is a normal resident of this universe or if she hails from another, like Fox. That will be up to a future Nintendo animated movie to figure out. All we can really determine now is that the sequel has seemingly confirmed that Samus exists in the Nintendo Cinematic Universe.

This is the only Metroid-related reference among The Super Mario Galaxy Movie‘s many Easter eggs. It also represents the first time the franchise has connected to Samus Aran, as there were no references to her world in The Super Mario Bros. Movie either.

Is Nintendo Setting Up Samus Aran’s Movie Debut?

With Illumination and Nintendo including this Metroid Easter egg, the intention behind such a reference is drawn into question. This could just be the studios’ way of having fun and giving Nintendo fans a connection to the icon that comes in a natural setting. But it also may be the first step toward Samus Aran making her first-ever movie appearance.

Even though the character has been wildly popular through the video games since 1986, Samus has never appeared in a movie. She could follow in the footsteps of Fox McCloud, whose ship was referenced in the first movie before appearing in the sequel. Perhaps the gunship’s presence is a tease that Samus will pop up in The Super Mario Movie 3.

There’s also the chance that Nintendo has bigger aspirations. Illumination could already be developing a Metroid animated movie, or they could be using The Super Mario Galaxy Movie as a chance to gauge the audience’s interest in such a possibility. Worst-case scenario, it’s a step toward Samus being in the inevitable Super Smash Bros. movie. Either way, Samus’ gunship’s cameo could mean big things for Metroid fans.