With the Mario Bros. animated movies’ success and live-action Zelda on the way, you might be asking, “What’s next?” from Nintendo. It’s safe to say that the company’s red tie-wearing gorilla could be the next 8-bit star crashing onto the big screen. An updated schedule from Universal Pictures Spain lists an ‘Untitled Illumination/Nintendo Event Film’ for April 12, 2028, hinting that a Donkey Kong movie could be next in line.
As with most early listings, there’s no official title or details attached just yet, but one small detail stands out. The Nintendo-related project is the only title listed that’s marked in red, which indicates the movie name is still subject to change. Others, like the Shrek reboot and Obsession, only have a red-marked release date of May and June 2026. Still, the fact that it’s there at all suggests something concrete is already in motion behind the scenes.
While Nintendo and Illumination have yet to confirm what this project actually is, the timing lines up with ongoing rumors. A previous report from leaker MyTimeToShineHello pointed out that a Donkey Kong movie is deep in development for a 2028 release window. Meanwhile, work has reportedly begun on the third Mario Movie planned for 2029. Beyond that, longer-term projects tied to Star Fox and Kirby have also been talked about. If that roadmap is accurate, this mystery April 2028 slot could easily mean that we’re getting a Donkey Kong movie soon enough.
We also recently covered that Nintendo is pitching a Metroid movie, with Sony and Universal Pictures locked in a pretty heated race to ‘win the rights.’ Both studios are said to be leaning toward live-action, though that could still change as talks evolve. Universal, in particular, is reportedly pushing hard not just for Metroid, but for access to more Nintendo properties across the board.
The roadmap doesn’t even stop at the potentially sci-fi horror adaptation. Spin-offs centered on Bowser and a Princess Peach & Rosalina pairing are reportedly being explored. Even more interesting, a Super Smash Bros. movie could be apparently back on the table after Shigeru Miyamoto dismissed the idea. Though it may hinge on how the Star Fox movie performs first.
Of course, there’s also the possibility that the leaked Universal schedule is about something entirely different than a Donkey Kong movie. Illumination and Nintendo have only officially collaborated on Mario so far, after all.
But with the two animated films pulling in a combined $2 billion success at the box office, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them branch out into another widely recognizable IP. And a barrel-throwing gorilla’s escapades are obviously what everyone has in mind after the plumber duo’s adventure.
