Could Donkey Kong be the next Nintendo character to star in his own movie?
Universal and Nintendo have officially registered a copyright for an Untitled Donkey Kong Project: Motion Picture. While this doesn't confirm that a solo Donkey Kong film is on the way, it strongly suggests the idea is being considered and possibly developed behind the scenes.
With a sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie already set for release on April 3, 2026, there’s a chance that story elements in that film could pave the way for a Donkey Kong-centered adventure.
Adding to the speculation, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa has hinted that more projects are in development. While discussing the upcoming live-action Legend of Zelda movie, he noted that Nintendo is working on multiple film projects, though no specific titles have been revealed.
“We released The Super Mario Bros. Movie in theaters in April 2023, and are pleased to say that it has been received positively by many people around the world,” Furukawa said. “Although we cannot discuss our plans beyond The Legend of Zelda movie at this time, we are working on various other projects.”
All signs point to Nintendo expanding its cinematic universe, and it's hard to imagine a more deserving Nintendo mascot than Donkey Kong.
Donkey Kong, voiced by Seth Rogen, plays an important role in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
When Mario and Princess Peach travel to the Jungle Kingdom, they hope to recruit the Kong army, which is led by Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong’s father. Before offering their support, Donkey Kong challenges Mario to a one-on-one fight. Mario manages to win, earning the respect of the Kongs.
After that, Donkey Kong becomes a key member of the group, joining Mario, Peach, and Toad on their journey to defeat Bowser. His character is portrayed as flashy and full of confidence, but also hiding a few personal insecurities.
He plays a major part in the second half of the movie, taking part in major action scenes and helping to drive the plot towards a final showdown with Boswer.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) was a massive hit at the box office, earning more than $1.36 billion worldwide.
This impressive total made it the highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time, the second-biggest film release of 2023, and one of the most successful animated films ever made.
The film currently ranks #5 after Ne Zha 2, Inside Out 2, 2019's Lion King remake, and Frozen 2.
Critics gave The Super Mario Bros. Movie a mixed response. Many praised its stunning visuals and the way it honored the games, but others criticized the story for being thin and the humor for lacking consistency.
Despite those critiques, general audiences responded very positively, turning the film into a global phenomenon and a major win for both Nintendo and Illumination.