While this probably won’t come as a surprise to most—especially after Shigeru Miyamoto said he had “no doubt” more Nintendo-based films were coming following the massive success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie (the first video game adaptation to surpass $1 billion, earning $1.361 billion globally with a sequel already confirmed)—a recent joint filing by Nintendo and Universal Pictures strongly suggests that a Donkey Kong movie may be next in line for the Nintendo cinematic universe.
Although details are scarce, the June 6, 2025 filing refers to the project under the temporary title “Untitled Donkey Kong Project (Motion Picture)” and lists execution dates of May 9 and May 27, 2025.
Back in 2023, Seth Rogen—who voiced Donkey Kong in The Super Mario Bros. Movie—told Collider that there’s “a lot of opportunity” for a Donkey Kong movie. He said he’d be “thrilled to see Donkey Kong go on more adventures,” even joking that a “Fast & Furious–style family-based action drama” would be a perfect fit for the Kong clan.
Donkey Kong hoisting some barrels in The Super Mario Bros. Movie/Nintendo, Universal Studios
It’s widely expected that Rogen will return as the voice of Donkey Kong in the upcoming film, especially since he admitted he’d “be jealous if someone else played Donkey Kong.” His love for the character clearly runs deep—after all, who wouldn’t want a Fast & Furious–style Donkey Kong movie? Big jungle set pieces, banana-powered vehicles, and a whole lot of family talk. At that point, is Donkey Kong basically the Dominic Toretto of the Nintendo universe?
As of this writing, it’s not known when the standalone Donkey Kong movie is expected to hit theaters. Much like The Super Mario Bros. Movie, it will be a joint effort from Nintendo and Illumination Studios.
While fans await more news about the film, the character is making a major return in the gaming world: Donkey Kong Bananza, the first Donkey Kong game since 2014’s Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and the first 3D platformer featuring the character since 1999’s Donkey Kong 64, is slated to release for the Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17th, 2025.
Another iconic Nintendo franchise heading to the big screen is The Legend of Zelda. Nintendo has announced that the live-action film, which is being filmed in New Zealand, is scheduled to premiere in theaters on March 26, 2027
Are you looking forward to seeing a standalone Donkey Kong movie? Do you think Seth Rogen should be the voice of Donkey Kong once more? Let us know in the comments.
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