Star Fox Movie Hopes Soar: Takaya Imamura Shares Vision for Nintendo's Cinematic Future

Takaya Imamura, renowned for his extensive contributions as a designer and artist at Nintendo, has publicly shared his ambitions for a Star Fox movie, signaling a bold new direction for the beloved Nintendo franchise.

Imamura, whose legacy includes co-creating memorable Star Fox characters and working on acclaimed titles like Star Fox Zero for the Nintendo Wii U, discussed his cinematic aspirations during a recent interview with former Nintendo of America employees Kit and Krysta on their YouTube channel. In their wide-ranging conversation, when asked about his hopes for the future of the Star Fox series, Imamura shifted the conversation from games to the realm of film.

"A film," Imamura stated directly, before adding that he would be eager to play an active role in such a project.

He further commented on Nintendo's recent corporate strategy to invest more heavily in leveraging its intellectual properties (IPs) beyond the boundaries of traditional video games, pointing to increasing investments in movies, animation, and related media. Imamura went on to express his strong belief that Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo’s legendary game creator and longtime producer on the Star Fox series, would one day bring a Star Fox movie to life.

"I am confident Miyamoto-san is going to make a Star Fox movie," Imamura told the podcast hosts, underlining his optimism for the series' expansion onto the big screen.

He emphasized his willingness to participate in the project's realization, even sharing, "I told Nintendo, if you make it, I want to help out." Nintendo has seen significant success with recent ventures beyond gaming, most notably with the release of The Super Mario Bros.

Movie in 2023, which broke box office records and reaffirmed the global appeal of Nintendo’s brands.

However, Imamura also acknowledges the challenge: Star Fox, while a respected and innovative series in Nintendo's catalog, does not command the same mainstream popularity as titans like Mario or The Legend of Zelda.

The last new mainline entry, Star Fox Zero, launched for the Nintendo Wii U in 2016.

Since then, fans have hoped for a modern reboot or a high-profile release for the Nintendo Switch, but updates have remained elusive. Still, the prospect of a Star Fox movie excites long-time followers and industry watchers alike, particularly as Nintendo continues to evolve its entertainment strategy through internal initiatives and collaborations.

With Nintendo regularly broadcasting game and media news through Nintendo Direct presentations, and expanding offerings on the Nintendo eShop, the company is poised to capitalize on its widely recognized franchises in new ways.

Should Imamura’s dream materialize, it could represent a new era for Star Fox and solidify Nintendo’s commitment to storytelling across mediums. As fans await official word from Nintendo or Shigeru Miyamoto himself, the idea of Fox McCloud and his crew taking flight on the silver screen remains a vivid hope—a testament to both the creative spirit of its original creators and the enduring appeal of Nintendo’s iconic universe.

Nintendo Takaya Imamura Star Fox Miyamoto Shigeru Miyamoto