New Movie Announcement from Nintendo and Illumination: 2028 Date Confirmed!
Universal Pictures has officially announced that a new, as-yet-untitled animated film, produced in collaboration with Nintendo and Illumination, will be released on April 12, 2028. This development comes on the heels of the success of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which hit theaters in recent weeks and took the box office by storm. Fans are eagerly waiting to see if this new date marks a Donkey Kong spin-off or the third installment in the main series.
Nintendo's cinematic journey began with the first The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 2023, which broke records by grossing $1.36 billion worldwide. The sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which met audiences on April 1, 2026, achieved similar success, cementing the company's plans for a "cinematic universe." The company's legendary figure Shigeru Miyamoto frequently states that they will continue to bring Nintendo's rich library of characters to the big screen and aim to establish a regular release schedule.
The strongest candidate for this mysterious 2028 project is seen as a spin-off film focusing on the Donkey Kong character, voiced by Seth Rogen. Additionally, due to the brief appearance of the Fox McCloud character in the latest film, the possibility of a Star Fox movie has begun to be discussed loudly among fans. It is also worth noting that Nintendo is not limited to animation and is working with Sony Pictures on a live-action The Legend of Zelda film, set to be released on May 7, 2027.
This announcement symbolizes Nintendo's vision of evolving beyond just a gaming giant into a global entertainment empire. The partnership established with Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri continues to bear fruit in terms of both financial success and fan satisfaction. This planned calendar, extending to 2028, is considered the greatest proof that Nintendo fans can expect a new big-screen adventure every year for the coming years.
