Nintendo and Illumination have made more than $2 billion at the box office with The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, so a third collaboration between the two entertainment giants was inevitable. Now, thanks to a release schedule from Universal Pictures, we have a sense of when Nintendo and Illumination’s next movie will arrive.
According to Universal Pictures International Spain, via ResetEra, a new Untitled Illumination/Nintendo Event Film is scheduled to hit movie theaters on April 12, 2028. That’s two years after the release of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which sets up a third adventure for Mario, Luigi, Peach, and new characters introduced to the Mario Cinematic Universe.
Nintendo and Illumination haven’t officially announced a third Super Mario movie, though Galaxy hints at further interplanetary exploits for the Mushroom Kingdom crew. But the next project from Nintendo and Illumination may not necessarily star Mario. It might star Donkey Kong instead.
In 2025, Nintendo Studios and Universal Pictures registered a copyright for an Untitled Donkey Kong Project motion picture. Donkey Kong was a major component of 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie and made only a brief cameo in its sequel. Reports that Seth Rogen would reprise his role as Donkey Kong in a stand-alone movie go back as far as 2021. In a 2023 interview with Collider, Rogen seemed open to voicing Donkey Kong in further animated adventures.
“There’s a lot of opportunity there,” Rogen said. “I think the family unit of the Kongs seems to be — and if the Fast and Furious films have taught us anything, it’s that it’s all about family.” Later, in a behind-the-scenes interview with the actor, Rogen said, “It’s a fun character, it’s a fun world. I would be thrilled to see Donkey Kong go on more adventures.”
He just had one request: “Maybe give him some pants this time.”
Donkey Kong recently wore pants in Donkey Kong Bananza, the Nintendo Switch 2 game that explored the ape’s early days, when he first met the damsel in distress from the original Donkey Kong, Pauline. Since his big-screen animated debut, Donkey Kong has also received two theme park attractions at Universal Studios Japan and Universal Epic Universe in Orlando, featuring the Mine-Cart Madness coaster and an immersive land experience.
There are other options: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie includes characters from the Star Fox and Pikmin franchises, so maybe we’ll finally get a Fox McCloud-led movie. Nintendo and Illumination already have Glen Powell on the hook, after all. Just don’t pin your hopes on The Super Smash Bros. Movie arriving in 2028. Maybe next decade.
Nintendo’s next confirmed theatrical release is based on The Legend of Zelda. The Wes Ball-directed live-action fantasy film from Nintendo Studios and Sony Pictures is slated for release on May 7, 2027.
The Zelda movie has found its Zelda and Link
Young British actors Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth have been cast
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