Fans of Nintendo were surprised to learn that a familiar voice won’t be returning for the upcoming sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The new film arrives in theaters on April 1st, three years after the first movie became a huge success. While the main characters – Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Bowser, and Toad – are all back, one actor from the original won’t be reprising their role.
Seth Rogen isn’t in the new Super Mario Bros. Movie, which led fans to believe his popular character, Donkey Kong, wouldn’t be back. However, that might not be the case! His absence could actually hint at a separate, new movie focused on Donkey Kong and his family – the first spin-off from the successful Super Mario franchise.
Is Illumination Making a Donkey Kong Spinoff Movie?
Although Donkey Kong won’t appear in the next Super Mario Bros. Movie, his future looks promising. Seth Rogen’s portrayal of the character was a highlight of the first film, showing Donkey Kong dealing with personal struggles and becoming more self-assured. This development suggests he could become a major player beyond the main Mario series, and his absence from the sequel might mean a separate franchise focused on Donkey Kong is in the works.
The reason Donkey Kong wasn’t in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is probably because he’s getting his own movie. It would be strange for Nintendo and Illumination to leave out such a famous character, especially since he played a key role in the first film. It’s much more likely they’re secretly developing a Donkey Kong movie to build out their cinematic universe further.
Donkey Kong is well-known as a character in the Mario games, but he truly shines when he’s the star, like in the Donkey Kong Country series. This makes him a great candidate for his own movie, as there’s already a wealth of existing games to draw from. Plus, characters like Diddy Kong, Cranky Kong, and the rest of the Kong family deserve more development than they’d likely get in a Mario film. A dedicated Donkey Kong Country spinoff would give these characters the spotlight they deserve.
It’s becoming clear that a Donkey Kong spinoff movie is actually in development. Nintendo and Illumination filed paperwork in 2025 showing they’re working on the project. While it’s not a certainty the movie will be made, this proves the studios are seriously considering and developing story ideas for a Donkey Kong-focused film.
As a big fan, I was surprised not to see Donkey Kong in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and it feels like it was intentional. Plus, I recently found out someone filed a copyright for a Donkey Kong spinoff! It really seems like we’re going to get a movie starring DK himself. Whether that actually happens, though, probably depends on how well this Mario movie does. If it’s a hit like the first one, I’m confident Illumination will give the green light to their first official spinoff movie!
Will Donkey Kong Show Up in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie?
Just because Donkey Kong isn’t closely connected to Mario and his friends doesn’t rule out an appearance in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. He probably won’t be a major character like he was in the first movie, but a cameo in the sequel is still possible.
From what we’ve seen in the trailers for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, a lot of the story seems to happen in space. If Donkey Kong isn’t part of Mario, Peach, and the team’s journey across the universe, it would probably make sense for him to appear briefly at the start, before they begin their adventure. Another possibility is that he could show up later as a surprise, helping his friends when they really need it.
Even a brief appearance by Donkey Kong would satisfy fans while they wait for his next solo movie. Seth Rogen’s performance as the character was memorable, so it would be a letdown if he wasn’t included at all after a three-year wait for a sequel. If Rogen is indeed developing a Donkey Kong spinoff, it would be easy for Illumination to record him for a quick cameo in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
Fans will need to wait until April 1st, when The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is released, to find out if Donkey Kong appears. But even if he’s not in this movie, there’s still a good chance we’ll see him in his own spin-off film, if the rumors are true.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Sets Up a Larger Nintendo Cinematic Universe
The possibility of a Donkey Kong spin-off highlights Nintendo’s expanding cinematic world. After the huge success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 2023, many fans predicted that Illumination would bring other classic Nintendo games to the big screen. This new project aims to build a large franchise featuring some of Nintendo’s most beloved characters.
As a huge cinema fan, I was really excited to hear Nintendo confirm that Fox McCloud from Star Fox will be in the new Mario movie! It’s a bit of a surprise, since Star Fox is usually a totally separate thing from the Mario universe. But honestly, I think this is Nintendo testing the waters – setting things up for a possible Star Fox movie down the line. It definitely shows they’re willing to bring more of their games to the big screen, which is fantastic news!
The movie often features characters who usually have their own series of games. It’s unknown how important these appearances will be, but it’s clear that any character from Nintendo could potentially show up. With a live-action Legend of Zelda movie also in development, we might soon see other famous video game heroes like Kirby and Samus join the fun.
This has sparked speculation that Illumination is planning a Super Smash Bros. movie. While it’s unlikely to happen for several years, it would be a perfect adaptation for video game enthusiasts. If films like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and any Donkey Kong spin-offs are successful, a Super Smash Bros. movie would seem much more likely.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie hits theaters on April 1, 2026.
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2026-03-30 13:07