Donkey Kong Set for Big Screen Comeback as New Movie Plans Leak
A brand-new Donkey Kong movie might be on the way, and it looks like Universal and Nintendo are behind it. Even though it hasn’t been officially announced, a copyright filing has fans talking, and it’s clear that something is happening.
After the failure of the live-action Super Mario Bros. movie in the 1990s, Nintendo stayed away from Hollywood for decades. That movie was a mess and is still remembered as one of the worst game-to-film adaptations.
But things turned around in 2023 with the animated Super Mario Bros. Movie. It may not have been loved by critics, but fans, especially younger ones, showed up in huge numbers. It made over a billion dollars worldwide.
Now, a sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie is coming out in spring 2026, and a live-action Legend of Zelda movie is set for release in May 2027. But these aren’t the only movies Nintendo is working on.
A copyright listing that recently popped up suggests that Universal and Nintendo Pictures are working on a Donkey Kong film. It’s being called an “untitled” project for now, and there’s been no official word from either company yet. Still, fans think an announcement is coming soon.
"Untitled Donkey Kong Project ; Motion picture" US Copyright registered by Universal Pictures https://t.co/iOWSksyNTkhttps://t.co/gMc7HP8KlC pic.twitter.com/liG1znqC8j
— Wario64 (@Wario64) July 13, 2025
The timing lines up with the release of Donkey Kong Bananza, a new game coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17th. Fans think this would be the perfect moment to reveal the movie, maybe during a new Nintendo Direct. There hasn’t been a general Direct since the Switch 2 came out, so this could be their big surprise.
It’s expected that the movie will be animated, just like The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Donkey Kong appeared in that film, voiced by Seth Rogen, and it seems likely he’ll return to the role for this one too.
During Nintendo’s annual shareholder meeting, company president Shuntaro Furukawa gave a little more insight into what’s going on behind the scenes. His comments were translated and shared publicly.
He said, “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. Looking ahead, we plan to release a new animated film based on the world of Super Mario Bros. in April 2026, and a live-action movie of The Legend of Zelda in May 2027.”
Furukawa also explained that Nintendo wants to be very involved in how these movies are made. “Rather than simply licensing our IP to film production companies, we are taking a proactive approach where Nintendo itself is deeply involved in production and makes investments as needed. This approach allows us to maintain a strong commitment to the quality of the final product.”
He didn’t name Donkey Kong directly, but he did hint that more movies are already in the works.
If all signs are right, Donkey Kong is heading back to theaters soon, and this time, it might just be a hit.
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