Donkey Kong Bananza launches tomorrow, with hype boosted by a new copyright filing from Nintendo and Universal. Read on to learn more about the film rumors, Bananza's conception, and terrain-smashing gameplay.
Donkey Kong Film Rumors Rise Ahead of Bananza’s Release
Nintendo and Universal Pictures Register Copyright for Donkey Kong Film
Donkey Kong Bananza is just a day away from release, and adding fuel to the hype is an "Untitled Donkey Kong Project" from Nintendo and Universal Pictures, known for producing "The Super Mario Bros. Movie." According to public copyright filings, the project is listed as a motion picture. Combined with recent investor comments from Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa, all signs point to the film quietly entering production.
"We released The Super Mario Bros. Movie in theaters in April 2023, and are pleased to say that it has been received positively by many people around the world." Furukawa stated when asked about Nintendo’s push into visual content. "Looking ahead, we plan to release a new animated film based on the world of Super Mario Bros. in April 2026, and a live-action movie."
Donkey Kong—voiced by Seth Rogen—already got a taste of the spotlight in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which introduced a fully realized Kong Kingdom. With that world-building already in place, a spin-off film wouldn’t be far-fetched. The groundwork is set, and momentum is building with Donkey Kong Bananza.
"Under our strategy of ‘expanding the number of people who have access to Nintendo IP’... we have been working on initiatives beyond our dedicated video game platforms for several years." Furukawa went on to confirm that a new animated Mario film is set for April 2026, with a Legend of Zelda live-action feature planned for May 2027. Donkey Kong Bananza might as well be on the way not long after.
Other Donkey Kong Bananza News
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Donkey Kong Bananza is being developed by members of the Super Mario Odyssey team, recent interviews reveal. |
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Donkey Kong Bananza demo is now available on Switch 2 kiosks across U.S. shopping centers such as Walmart and Target. |
Donkey Kong Bananza Sets Standard for Modern DK Design
Super Mario Bros. Movie & Mario Kart World Based on DK's Bananza Model
Interestingly enough, the Donkey Kong seen in The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Mario Kart World actually started with Donkey Kong Bananza. According to a recent developer interview, the team overhauled his design by going back to Creator Shigeru Miyamoto’s original arcade concept before layering in new elements from Bananza's development. The updated Bananza model has since set the standard for DK’s modern 3D appearances.
"Outside of this game, Donkey Kong has recently appeared in The Super Mario Bros. Movie released in 2023 and in Mario Kart World, but there's a basic character design which provided the foundation for those versions of Donkey Kong. That basic Donkey Kong design has been completely revamped." said Producer Kenta Motokura.
"While overhauling the design, we returned to where it had all started. We took Miyamoto-san's original Donkey Kong as the basis, adding design elements from Donkey Kong Bananza here and there."
It was previously reported that Donkey Kong was redesigned to be more “expressive”. Miyamoto explained that the team worked closely with Rare—the UK studio behind Donkey Kong Country—to reimagine the character for a new era. That version introduced the now-iconic red tie, becoming the foundation for DK’s design moving forward.
Koizumi Pitches 3D Donkey Kong Game to Super Mario Odyssey Team
Donkey Kong Bananza was a direct request by Nintendo executive Yoshiaki Koizumi, known for directing Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. Koizumi approached Nintendo EDP Tokyo, the Super Mario Odyssey team, and asked them to consider developing a 3D Donkey Kong game.
"Because Nintendo does have a lot of characters to choose from, we're always considering what would be good timing to create a new game with a certain character to most pleased customers. But of course, that's just my best guess. You'd really have to ask Mr. Koizumi for the real answer,"
Koizumi recognized that Donkey Kong’s strength and long reach could create a platforming experience unlike Mario’s power-up focused playstyle. The team embraced this vision, working closely with Shigeru Miyamoto to preserve DK’s core identity. "For him, a lot of things that came up were the unique actions that a really strong character like Donkey Kong can engage in, things like the hand slap or blowing his breath," Motokura said.
"And I also spoke to Mr. Koizumi who had served as the director on Jungle Beat. And for him, one thing that was a really important distinguishing characteristic from a character like, say, Mario, is that Donkey Kong has these longer, stronger arms. So we took all of these distinctive features of Donkey Kong as a character and tried to think about how we could bring them to play in a new game."
Donkey Kong Bananza Spoilers Circulate Following Early Release Copies
Some players have already gotten their hands on early copies of the Nintendo Switch 2 game, resulting in screenshots revealing unreleased content surfacing across social media. These leaks include levels, story details, and gameplay elements that have yet to be officially announced.
Those planning to have a blind playthrough of Donkey Kong Bananza at launch are advised to take extra precautions. Muting related keywords, avoiding comment sections, and blocking hashtags connected to the game can help. With leaks spreading quickly on Twitter, Reddit, and YouTube, staying ahead of them is the best way to preserve the surprise.
With just one day to go, Donkey Kong Bananza launches on July 17, 2025, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. For all the latest updates, be sure to check out our coverage below!
Sources:
Untitled Donkey Kong Motion Picture Public FilingCopyright
The 85th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Ask the Developer Vol. 19: Donkey Kong Bananza — Part 1
Donkey Kong Bananza Direct: Everything We Learned
Donkey Kong Bananza Happened Because Nintendo Exec Explicitly Requested It, Producer Reveals
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