Nintendo's 'Untitled' 2028 Film: The Donkey Kong Jungle Drumbeat Begins?
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Universal has scheduled an "Untitled Illumination/Nintendo event film" for April 12, 2028, widely believed to be a Donkey Kong spinoff film with Seth Rogen, joining Nintendo's expanding cinematic universe that includes a 2027 Zelda film and a teased 2029 Mario animated sequel.
Alright, mates, gather 'round, because Nintendo's at it again, pulling another rabbit (or rather, a barrel-throwing ape) out of its hat! While we're all still buzzing from *The Super Mario Galaxy Movie* (or eagerly awaiting its arrival, depending on when you’re reading this magical missive from the future), the big N has decided to drop a rather intriguing, albeit *untitled*, release date for their *next* animated flick. April 12, 2028. Mark your digital calendars!
Universal, bless their hearts, just updated their movie schedule with something they're calling an "Untitled Illumination/Nintendo event film." Now, "untitled" is a bit like saying "we found a magical glowing orb, but we're not sure if it's a new power-up or just a really fancy rock." It's mysterious, it's intriguing, but let's be fair dinkum, the rumour mill has been churning like a well-oiled Piranha Plant since Donkey Kong gave us those unforgettable laughs in *The Super Mario Bros. Movie*. His notable absence from *The Super Mario Galaxy Movie* (as reported by Tom Phillips over at IGN South Africa – cheers, Tom!) only cranked the speculation up to 11.
Illumination, the wizards who brought us the Minions (and, y'know, those *other* rather successful Mario movies), are back at the helm. And honestly, it makes sense. Nintendo isn't just making movies; they're building an *empire* here. We've got the highly-anticipated live-action *The Legend of Zelda* film hitting in 2027, and Bowser's own Jack Black has been dropping hints about a third animated Mario movie coming in 2029. So, a 2028 spot for our favourite tie-wearing ape? It just fits, doesn't it? Like a perfectly placed barrel in a platforming level.
So, yeah, my gut feeling (and most of the internet's, let's be honest) is that this "untitled" event film is none other than our main man, Donkey Kong, likely with Seth Rogen back in the voice booth. The big question then becomes: what kind of bananas are they going to cook up for us? Fans, including yours truly, are absolutely clamouring for a deeper dive into DK's jungle kingdom. We want to meet the wider Kong family, see Diddy and Dixie get more than just a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo, and really explore the vibrant world that the *Donkey Kong Country* games teased us with.
Will it be an all-new tale? Or will it weave in elements from his storied video game past? Imagine a cinematic version of his *Donkey Kong Country* adventures! Or, perhaps, a prequel? The original article from IGN even sparked the idea of a younger Pauline, maybe an origin story of some sort, linking back to hints from *Donkey Kong Bananza*. After all, if *The Super Mario Galaxy Movie* can finally give us the canon lowdown on Rosalina's cosmic origins, then surely a young Pauline isn't beyond the realm of possibility. The narrative possibilities are as wild and wonderful as accidentally warping into the Minus World – anything can happen!
So, while Universal plays coy with their "untitled" tag, I reckon we've got a pretty good idea of who's swinging into cinemas in April 2028. Nintendo's cinematic universe is expanding faster than a Super Mushroom, and I'm genuinely buzzing to see what kind of glorious, chaotic fun they unleash next. Keep your eyes peeled, mates, because if this is indeed the Donkey Kong movie, it's going to be an absolute blast. Thanks again to Tom Phillips at IGN South Africa for spotting this on the schedules!
Tags: Nintendo, Donkey Kong, Illumination, Animated Film, Gaming News
Original article: IGN South Africa