Nintendo and Universal’s Untitled Donkey Kong Project: What We Know

20 July 2025
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9 min.
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Nintendo and Universal’s Untitled Donkey Kong Project: What We Know

Summary:

Nintendo Studios LLC and Universal Pictures quietly filed a copyright for an “Untitled Donkey Kong Project” on June 6, 2025. While the paperwork offers no plot clues, it confirms that the barrel-hurling gorilla is next in line for a feature-length spotlight following the blockbuster triumph of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the in-development live-action Zelda film. This overview breaks down what the filing tells us, why Donkey Kong is a logical choice, how Universal’s partnership with Nintendo keeps expanding, and when fans might expect to swing into theaters. We’ll explore potential story angles—from Kong Island escapades to Mushroom Kingdom crossovers—consider possible casting (including the likelihood of Seth Rogen’s return), and discuss how a dedicated DK adventure could anchor a wider Nintendo cinematic universe. Finally, we’ll look at production timelines, marketing predictions, and the industry impact of bringing one of gaming’s earliest icons back to pop-culture center stage.

Nintendo Studios LLC and Universal Pictures filed paperwork for an “Untitled Donkey Kong Project” on June 6, 2025, listing it explicitly as a motion picture. The filing surfaced in public records a month later, confirming that the pair behind 2023’s billion-dollar Mario hit are charting their next chapter in theaters. The document itself offers little more than the working title, but its existence follows the same breadcrumb trail that preceded both The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the live-action Legend of Zelda project, suggesting a similar development tempo. Fans spotted the notice within hours, igniting speculation that Nintendo plans to alternate between animated and live-action adaptations, keeping several franchises in play at once. The timing also positions Donkey Kong as a likely 2028–2029 release, giving Universal a clear runway for the Mario sequel in 2026 before returning to the Mushroom Kingdom’s extended family.

Copyright registrations are among the earliest public signals that a studio is moving past brainstorming and into formal development. While companies often secure trademarks for potential titles, adding a motion-picture classification tells investors, partners, and talent agents that the wheels are truly turning. For Nintendo, these filings double as low-key marketing touchpoints; each notice generates headlines without the need for a trailer or press conference. The Donkey Kong paperwork also specifies co-ownership with Universal, underscoring how tightly the two enterprises are interwoven after the success of Super Nintendo World theme parks and Mario’s cinematic breakout. Industry watchers treat such filings almost like corporate Easter eggs—silent confirmations that can be parsed for production order, studio priorities, and even budget scope based on the legal teams involved.

Unlike trademark applications, which can be speculative, copyright filings attach creative intent to a tangible medium—often an early draft of a script or treatment. The June 6 document lists Nintendo Studios LLC and Universal City Studios LLC as joint authors, meaning both companies likely contributed to the core concept. That arrangement closely mirrors their Mario collaboration, where Nintendo safeguarded brand integrity while Universal leveraged its Hollywood pipeline. Because the work is labeled “motion picture,” it bypasses ambiguity about format (live-action, animated, or hybrid). Insiders note that Universal typically locks in a director only after this step, giving the studio room to court talent while legal protections are in place. For fans, the takeaway is that Donkey Kong’s film is past the doodle-on-a-napkin stage and already sits in a database that lawyers, agencies, and guilds monitor daily.

Donkey Kong’s Evolution: From Arcade Titan to Modern Icon

When Donkey Kong burst into arcades in 1981, he did more than introduce Mario (then Jumpman); he set the template for character-driven platformers and helped solidify Nintendo’s global footprint. Over four decades, the tie-wearing ape has starred in rhythm games, kart races, and side-scrolling adventures, each iteration adding layers to his persona—sometimes brute, sometimes reluctant hero, always larger than life. That longevity translates seamlessly to cinema: audiences already grasp his motivations (bananas, family, occasional rivalry with plumbers) without needing a dense origin story. Nostalgia plays a role, too; Gen-Xers remember coin-ops, Millennials caught the Rare-era reboot, and Gen Z met him through crossovers like Smash Bros. The result is a multi-generational fanbase primed to cheer in theaters, mirroring the broad demographic that powered Mario’s $1.3-billion run.

Arcade Beginnings and Console Dominance

The original Donkey Kong cabinet challenged players to scale girders while dodging barrels, but the gameplay loop masked a subtle narrative: a misunderstood gorilla facing off against a relentless hero. That dynamic foreshadowed today’s anti-heroes and gives filmmakers thematic material beyond slapstick. Subsequent titles—Donkey Kong Country’s lush jungles, Jungle Beat’s bongo controls, Tropical Freeze’s brisk platforming—expanded his world with family members like Diddy, Dixie, and Cranky. Each character brings cinematic potential: Diddy’s plucky optimism, Dixie’s aerial flair, Cranky’s scene-stealing sarcasm. Modern audiences already met several Kong relatives in the Mario movie’s Kong Kingdom sequence, creating a soft introduction that the new film can build upon without re-explaining every backstory.

Universal Pictures and Nintendo: A Growing Alliance

Universal’s partnership with Nintendo now spans theme parks, merchandising, and movies. After Mario’s animated triumph, the studio locked in a July 2023 distribution deal guaranteeing first-look rights to future game adaptations. That synergy shortens development cycles: Universal can cross-promote films at Super Nintendo World and vice versa. The Donkey Kong movie filing cements this blueprint, suggesting that Illumination—or another Universal subsidiary—will again handle animation if the project stays fully CG. Given Illumination’s lean budgets and lucrative box-office returns, analysts expect a budget under $150 million, significantly lower than comparable superhero fare yet still large enough for cutting-edge fur rendering and explosive mine-cart chases.

The Billion-Dollar Blueprint Provided by Mario

The Super Mario Bros. Movie earned $1.361 billion worldwide and remains the highest-grossing video-game adaptation to date. Universal wasted no time green-lighting a sequel, slated for April 3, 2026, under the working title Super Mario World. The sequel’s production timeline offers a helpful yardstick: Mario’s first film filed copyright in 2020, teaser-dropped two years later, and premiered in 2023. If Donkey Kong follows a similar arc, fans might see a trailer by late 2027 and a theatrical release in 2028 or early 2029. Spacing releases this way avoids cannibalizing the Mario sequel’s marketing window while ensuring Nintendo keeps fresh cinematic content every two to three years—pace that mirrors Marvel’s early phase strategy but on a less frenetic schedule.

Stacking Up Against the Live-Action Zelda Film

Nintendo officially announced a live-action Legend of Zelda adaptation in November 2023, with series creator Shigeru Miyamoto producing alongside Avi Arad. Casting news broke today: Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will wield the Master Sword as Link, while Bo Bragason dons Zelda’s royal garb. The tonal gap between a fantasy epic and a comedic jungle romp lets Nintendo diversify its cinematic slate. Where Zelda aims for sweeping vistas and lore-heavy storytelling, a Donkey Kong feature can lean into slapstick action, rhythm, and color—counterprogramming that widens the audience. Releasing Zelda first (tentatively dated 2027) also gives Nintendo time to refine motion-capture tech and jungle environments that could carry over into Donkey Kong, optimizing costs across productions.

Plot Possibilities: Swinging Through the Jungle

So what narrative might a Donkey Kong film explore? The copyright title offers no hints, but the franchise’s staple beats—banana hoards stolen, family kidnapped, Kong Island threatened—translate neatly to a three-act structure. Writers could riff on DK Country’s Kremling invasion, inject a musical element echoing Jungle Beat, or flip the script and set Donkey Kong loose in a human metropolis for fish-out-of-water hijinks. Another angle is an origin story connecting his arcade showdown with Mario to modern times, clarifying why the two frenemies alternately brawl and team up. Because Donkey Kong appeared as a crowd favorite in the 2023 Mario film, a cameo from the plumbers—or at least a Peach or Yoshi Easter egg—feels inevitable, tying the universes together without hijacking the spotlight.

Cameo Potential and Easter Eggs Fans Crave

Crossover teases are practically tradition in shared universes, and Nintendo has plenty of toys in the chest: Dixie could riff with Peach on leadership styles; Cranky might recount Gorilla Warfare lore to Luigi; or King K. Rool could flash across a post-credit stinger, setting up future installments or even a Smash-style ensemble. Universal also has merchandising motives—new character introductions equal fresh plushies and theme-park meet-and-greets. Expect visual nods to classic levels (mine carts roaring through crystal caverns, barrel cannons blasting across treetops) and musical motifs sampling David Wise’s iconic scores alongside Koji Kondo’s Jungle Hijinx remix. The trick, of course, is seasoning these winks without drowning newcomers in inside jokes.

Ties to Super Nintendo World

Super Nintendo World’s next major expansion is a Donkey Kong area anchored by a steel-tracked mine-cart coaster. The ride’s animatronics and set pieces effectively serve as a physical mood board for the film: lush foliage, temple ruins, and rhythmic drumming that shakes the ground. Incorporating these visuals on screen keeps thematic synergy tight—park visitors will recognize locations, while moviegoers leave eager to book tickets to Osaka, Hollywood, or soon-to-open Orlando. Universal pioneered this loop with Jurassic World, where attractions and sequels cross-pollinated guest anticipation. Expect DK’s cinematic jungles to mirror the park’s scale, right down to the oversized banana trees and thundering waterfalls that already photograph beautifully on social media.

Casting and Talent: Who Could Bring the Kong Crew to Life?

Seth Rogen voiced Donkey Kong in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, leaning into his signature gravelly laugh rather than inventing a new register. He has publicly stated he would love to do a solo project if Nintendo calls. Given the positive audience response, Universal is likely to retain him, preserving continuity and marketing familiarity. For Diddy, studios might pursue a youthful comedic actor—someone like Jacob Tremblay or Iman Vellani—who can balance mischief with sincerity. Cranky’s cantankerous wit could fit J. K. Simmons or Brian Cranston. Dixie demands energetic vocal acrobatics; Hailee Steinfeld’s experience as Gwen Stacy proves she can juggle action and heart. Live-action possibilities exist, too: mo-cap suits paired with photo-real fur, similar to Planet of the Apes, could blend humanity and animation while showcasing performers’ expressions.

Release Timeline: When Might We Get Our Banana Popcorn?

If pre-production begins in late 2025, principal animation or motion-capture could start by mid-2026. Illumination typically spends 18–24 months animating, implying a theatrical window between spring 2028 and holiday 2028. Marketing would likely kick off with a teaser poster around Mario Day (March 10) in 2027, followed by a trailer at that June’s Summer Game Fest or Comic-Con. Nintendo enjoys tying game launches to film hype, so a new Donkey Kong title—or the long-rumored DK Switch 2 platformer—could share the stage, echoing how Pokémon movies accompany new games in Japan. Fans should also watch Universal’s investor calls; box-office forecasts for Mario 2 will influence budget and release strategy for DK.

Why Donkey Kong’s Movie Matters for Video Game Adaptations

Hollywood spent decades stumbling through game adaptations that misunderstood source material, but the 2020s have flipped the script with Sonic, Mario, and Fallout proving that respect for lore breeds box-office gold. A successful Donkey Kong film would cement Nintendo as a cinematic powerhouse, encouraging bolder choices like Metroid’s atmospheric sci-fi or Animal Crossing’s slice-of-life charm. Success could also validate Universal’s transmedia strategy, where parks, streaming shorts, and theatrical features feed a self-reinforcing ecosystem. For audiences, it signals an era where pixelated icons are no longer niche avatars but mainstream heroes who can headline tent-poles alongside caped crusaders and intergalactic warriors.

Conclusion

From a single line on a copyright form to dreams of mine-cart mayhem on the big screen, Donkey Kong’s leap into cinema looks poised to keep Nintendo’s movie momentum swinging. The partnership with Universal provides deep pockets and proven distribution muscle, while decades of games supply endless narrative bananas to peel. Whether Seth Rogen returns, Diddy nabs a co-lead, or King K. Rool steals the post-credits spotlight, one truth is clear: the Kong family is finally leaving the jungle gym and stepping onto the world stage. Get ready to hoist your barrels—because the next Nintendo blockbuster is already beating its chest in the distance.

FAQs
  • Q: Is the Donkey Kong movie confirmed?
    • A: The copyright filing by Nintendo Studios and Universal Pictures serves as de facto confirmation that a film is in development, though the studios have not issued a formal press release.
  • Q: Will it be animated or live-action?
    • A: The filing only says “motion picture.” Given Universal’s success with Illumination’s animated style, most analysts expect a CG feature, but mo-cap hybrid remains possible.
  • Q: Is Seth Rogen returning as Donkey Kong?
    • A: Rogen has expressed enthusiasm for reprising the role, and continuity with the Mario movie makes his casting likely, though no official deal is announced.
  • Q: When might the movie release?
    • A: If development parallels Mario’s timeline, production could wrap in 2028, lining up a theatrical debut late that year or early 2029.
  • Q: How does the film connect to the live-action Zelda project?
    • A: Both films share Nintendo oversight but target different genres—Zelda leans epic fantasy while Donkey Kong promises kinetic comedy—allowing staggered releases without audience fatigue.
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