Donkey Kong Movie Rumors: Universal Spain Lists Untitled Illumination/Nintendo Event Film for April 12, 2028
Nintendo and Illumination's film partnership has been one of the highest-profile collaborations between a games company and an animation studio in recent years.
The two companies worked together on The Super Mario Bros.
Movie (2023), produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures, and their ongoing relationship continues to attract attention from both the gaming and film industries.
A newly updated release schedule on Universal Pictures' Spanish website now lists an “Untitled Illumination/Nintendo Event Film” with a release date of April 12, 2028, a listing that has renewed interest in what the next Nintendo-branded theatrical project might be.
What the listing says and why it matters
The Universal Spain schedule entry itself is succinct: it identifies a placeholder title, categorizes the project under animation, and assigns the April 12, 2028 release date.
The listing is a verifiable public schedule entry on Universal’s regional site and is the source of the date referenced in this report.
Illumination remains the studio most closely associated with recent major Nintendo film adaptations, and Universal Pictures is the theatrical distributor for those projects.
Rewritten statements and industry context
Observers note that the release entry is fueling speculation because earlier reporting referenced a separate copyright filing tied to an “Untitled Donkey Kong Project.” In journalistic terms, that means reports have identified a filing that some analysts and fans connect to Donkey Kong, and those reports—combined with the Universal Spain date—are the basis for the current conjecture.
Industry commentators have said the combination of a formal release slot and prior filings gives the rumor more traction than a simple wish list item.
What we can verify
Verified facts in this story are straightforward: Nintendo and Illumination collaborated on The Super Mario Bros.
Movie (2023), Universal Pictures distributes Illumination’s Nintendo-branded films, and Universal Spain’s online schedule lists an Untitled Illumination/Nintendo Event Film for April 12, 2028.
Reports have circulated about a copyright filing referencing an “Untitled Donkey Kong Project,” but those reports are distinct from an official confirmation of a Donkey Kong film from Nintendo, Illumination, or Universal.
What to watch next
Until Nintendo, Illumination, or Universal issues an official announcement, the April 12, 2028 listing should be treated as a studio scheduling entry rather than a confirmed property attachment.
Fans tracking Nintendo films should monitor official channels—Nintendo Direct announcements, Illumination and Universal press releases, and verified filings—for definitive information.
This article will be updated if and when the companies involved release further details.
Nintendo and Illumination's film partnership has been one of the highest-profile collaborations between a games company and an animation studio in recent years.
The two companies worked together on The Super Mario Bros.
Movie (2023), produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures, and their ongoing relationship continues to attract attention from both the gaming and film industries.
A newly updated release schedule on Universal Pictures' Spanish website now lists an “Untitled Illumination/Nintendo Event Film” with a release date of April 12, 2028, a listing that has renewed interest in what the next Nintendo-branded theatrical project might be.
What the listing says and why it matters
The Universal Spain schedule entry itself is succinct: it identifies a placeholder title, categorizes the project under animation, and assigns the April 12, 2028 release date.
The listing is a verifiable public schedule entry on Universal’s regional site and is the source of the date referenced in this report.
Illumination remains the studio most closely associated with recent major Nintendo film adaptations, and Universal Pictures is the theatrical distributor for those projects.
Rewritten statements and industry context
Observers note that the release entry is fueling speculation because earlier reporting referenced a separate copyright filing tied to an “Untitled Donkey Kong Project.” In journalistic terms, that means reports have identified a filing that some analysts and fans connect to Donkey Kong, and those reports—combined with the Universal Spain date—are the basis for the current conjecture.
Industry commentators have said the combination of a formal release slot and prior filings gives the rumor more traction than a simple wish list item.
What we can verify
Verified facts in this story are straightforward: Nintendo and Illumination collaborated on The Super Mario Bros.
Movie (2023), Universal Pictures distributes Illumination’s Nintendo-branded films, and Universal Spain’s online schedule lists an Untitled Illumination/Nintendo Event Film for April 12, 2028.
Reports have circulated about a copyright filing referencing an “Untitled Donkey Kong Project,” but those reports are distinct from an official confirmation of a Donkey Kong film from Nintendo, Illumination, or Universal.
What to watch next
Until Nintendo, Illumination, or Universal issues an official announcement, the April 12, 2028 listing should be treated as a studio scheduling entry rather than a confirmed property attachment.
Fans tracking Nintendo films should monitor official channels—Nintendo Direct announcements, Illumination and Universal press releases, and verified filings—for definitive information.
This article will be updated if and when the companies involved release further details.