Nintendo and Illumination are not slowing down. While The Super Mario Galaxy Movie continues to dominate the global box office with nearly $750 million in ticket sales, the two companies have already locked in their next project—and we now know exactly when it will arrive.
The date is April 12, 2028. The title is a mystery. And that mystery is already fueling speculation across the entire Nintendo community.
The Leak: A Quiet Listing That Says Everything
The news did not come from a flashy press release or a Nintendo Direct. It arrived through a far quieter channel: a Universal Pictures International Spain release schedule published as a PDF on the studio’s official website.
Buried in that calendar of upcoming films, sandwiched between other major releases stretching out to 2030, is a single line in bold red text:
“UNTITLED ILLUMINATION/NINTENDO EVENT FILM (APRIL 2028)”
The page makes no effort to hide the listing. It is right there, publicly accessible, confirmed by multiple outlets including Polygon, Nintendo Life, Kotaku, and Nintendo Everything.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date Confirmed | April 12, 2028 |
| Studios | Illumination (animation) and Nintendo |
| Listed As | “Untitled Illumination/Nintendo Event Film” |
| Source | Universal Pictures International Spain release calendar |
| Format | Animated feature film |
| Nintendo Official Confirmation | None yet |
This is not a rumor sourced from an anonymous insider. It is a studio’s own public document, and it tells us that production is already deep enough to lock in a specific release date less than two years away.
The Obvious Question: What Is It?
Nintendo and Illumination have released nothing official beyond what can be inferred from the calendar listing. But there are clues—and the clues point in two clear directions.
Theory 1: A Donkey Kong Spin-Off
The strongest evidence supports this possibility. In 2025, Nintendo Studios and Universal Pictures registered a copyright for an “Untitled Donkey Kong Project” motion picture, a move that signals far more than casual interest.
Donkey Kong was a breakout character in 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, where Seth Rogen voiced the tie-wearing ape with a laid-back charm that resonated with audiences. He appeared only briefly in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which left fans wondering when—not if—he would get his own spotlight.
Rogen himself has repeatedly expressed enthusiasm for more. In a 2023 interview with Collider, he said:
“There’s a lot of opportunity there. 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 for the Donkey Kong Bananza game, Rogen went further:
“It’s a fun character, it’s a fun world. I would be thrilled to see Donkey Kong go on more adventures.”
He did have one request: “Maybe give him some pants this time.”
Rogen got his wish in Donkey Kong Bananza, the Nintendo Switch 2 game that explored the ape’s early days.The timing is suggestive: a major game release, a proven audience appetite, and an actor who wants to return.
Additional evidence:
- A scooper report published on April 26, 2026, claims that a Donkey Kong film is “deep in development” at Illumination with a 2028 release window, making it the only Nintendo film project currently confirmed beyond Zelda.
- The same report places a third Mario film in 2029, not 2028.
Theory 2: The Super Mario Movie 3
The counterargument is simple: Mario is a proven money printer. The first film grossed over 1.3billion.∗TheSuperMarioGalaxyMovie∗hasalreadypassed750 million globally and held the number one spot at the North American box office for three consecutive weeks.
A third Mario movie is inevitable. Nintendo and Illumination would have to be leaving billions on the table to not make one.
However, the timeline works against this theory. There were three years between the first Mario movie (2023) and Galaxy (2026). A two-year turnaround for a third Mario film would be aggressively fast for Illumination’s production pipeline.A Donkey Kong spin-off, by contrast, could have entered development alongside Galaxy, allowing a shorter gap.
Theory 3: Something Else Entirely
A small but vocal contingent of fans has suggested the untitled film could be a Star Fox movie. Fox McCloud has a notable presence in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and Nintendo could be testing the waters for a spin-off.
However, most analysts consider this unlikely. A Star Fox film would be a riskier bet than either a Mario sequel or a Donkey Kong spin-off, and the 2028 date suggests a project that is already well into production—not one still being tested for audience response.
Nintendo Life also notes that the Metroid movie rumor involves a live-action production, while the 2028 listing is explicitly an Illumination project, meaning it will be animated.
The Bigger Picture: Nintendo’s Cinematic Universe Takes Shape
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed last year that the company aims to increase its film and animation offerings as a media-expansion strategy following the success of the Mario movies.
The 2028 film is not an isolated project. It is one piece of a much larger puzzle.
| Nintendo Film Project | Status |
|---|---|
| The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) | Released; $1.36 billion |
| The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) | In theaters; nearing $750 million |
| The Legend of Zelda (2027) | Live-action; filmed, in post-production |
| Untitled Illumination/Nintendo Film (2028) | Date confirmed; likely Donkey Kong |
| Mario Movie 3 | Rumored for 2029 |
| Star Fox | Rumored for 2030 |
| Luigi’s Mansion | Rumored, in development |
| Kirby | Rumored, early development |
| Yoshi’s Island | Rumored, pitching stage |
| Super Smash Bros. | Rumored, in development |
| Metroid | Rumored, live-action pitch phase |
| Princess Peach & Rosalina | Rumored, exploratory |
| Bowser Movie | Rumored, exploratory |
A recent scooper report outlines up to nine potential Nintendo film properties in various stages of development, from active production to early pitching.The strategy mirrors the Marvel Cinematic Universe model: build individual character franchises, then bring them together for a larger crossover event.
Notably, Shigeru Miyamoto has explicitly stated that a Super Smash Bros. movie is not happening soon. In an interview with Polygon published on April 1, 2026, Miyamoto confirmed the company is focused on building individual film franchises first.
The Illumination partnership has earned more than $2 billion across two films, making it one of the most commercially successful studio collaborations in modern animation history.Nintendo has every incentive to continue it.
Why This Matters for Fans
For Nintendo fans, the 2028 film confirmation is significant beyond the immediate mystery.
- It signals consistency. Nintendo is not making movies as a one-off experiment. The company is building a reliable theatrical release pipeline with a new major film arriving roughly every year: Mario (2023), Galaxy (2026), Zelda (2027), and now the untitled 2028 project.
- It confirms animation is the priority. Despite the live-action Zelda film and the rumored live-action Metroid project, Nintendo’s primary theatrical identity is animated family films produced with Illumination. That partnership shows no signs of slowing.
- It puts Donkey Kong in the spotlight. Whether the 2028 film is Donkey Kong or not, the evidence of a copyright registration and the scooper report strongly suggests the character is getting his own movie soon. For fans who have waited decades for Nintendo’s original arcade star to headline his own feature film, the wait may finally be over.
FAQ: Common Questions About the 2028 Nintendo Movie
Q: Has Nintendo confirmed the 2028 movie?
A: Not officially. The information comes from a Universal Pictures Spain release calendar, which is an official studio document but not a formal announcement.
Q: Is it a Mario movie?
A: It could be, but the evidence points more strongly toward a Donkey Kong spin-off. A third Mario film is rumored for 2029.
Q: Will Seth Rogen return as Donkey Kong?
A: Rogen has repeatedly expressed interest in returning to the role and has said he would be “thrilled” to voice Donkey Kong again. No official casting has been confirmed.
Q: Is the 2028 movie animated or live-action?
A: Animated. Illumination exclusively produces animated films, and the listing is for an Illumination project.
Q: What about the Zelda movie?
A: The Legend of Zelda live-action film from Sony Pictures has wrapped filming and is on track for its May 7, 2027 release date. It is a separate project from the Illumination partnership.
Q: Will there be a Super Smash Bros. movie?
A: Not soon. Shigeru Miyamoto has stated that Nintendo is focused on individual character stories first. A Smash Bros. crossover is rumored to be in development but will likely arrive after the Star Fox project, no earlier than the 2030s.
The Bottom Line
Nintendo and Illumination have locked in April 12, 2028, for their next collaboration, and the evidence points toward a Donkey Kong spin-off rather than an immediate Mario sequel. A copyright registration, a willing and enthusiastic voice actor, and a scooper report aligning with the leaked release date all tell the same story.
The broader context makes it even clearer. Nintendo is building a cinematic universe one franchise at a time. Mario proved the concept. Zelda will test live-action. And Donkey Kong—the character who started it all for Nintendo in 1981—may finally be getting his own moment on the big screen.
Whatever the untitled 2028 film turns out to be, one thing is already certain: Nintendo’s film ambitions are not slowing down. They are accelerating.
What do you think the 2028 Nintendo movie will be? Donkey Kong, Mario 3, or something else? Let us know in the comments.
About the Author
