Latest news with #ShuntaroFurukawa
Geek Tyrant
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
A DONKEY KONG Movie Might Be in the Works From Universal and Nintendo — GeekTyrant
Hang onto your bananas, Donkey Kong might be heading back to the big screen. According to new public copyright filings, Universal Pictures and Nintendo Studios LLC have registered an 'Untitled Donkey Kong Project; Motion picture' with the U.S. Copyright Office. The listing was first spotted by eagle-eyed users on ResetEra and later shared by Nintendo insider account Wario64, who posted a screenshot confirming the details. While the title is still under wraps, the paperwork leaves little room for doubt… Donkey Kong is getting his own movie! This development comes just days after Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa hinted that more big-screen adaptations were on the way. 'We plan to expand the number of people who have access to Nintendo IP,' he said. 'Visual content is one such area.' It looks like he was teeing up a full-blown Kong-centric expansion. Of course, Donkey Kong isn't new to movies. The iconic ape made his animated film debut in 2023's Super Mario Bros. Movie , voiced by Seth Rogen. That performance quickly became a fan favorite, but it's still unclear whether Rogen will return for this new outing. Even without official casting or plot details, the timing couldn't be more perfect. Donkey Kong is already swinging into 2025 with serious momentum. His next video game adventure, Donkey Kong Bananza , is set to launch on July 17, 2025, for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. In the game, DK teams up with Pauline to recover stolen banana diamonds from a crew of villainous apes. Between a new game and a likely solo movie, it's safe to say: 2025 belongs to the king of the jungle.
Gizmodo
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Donkey Kong Might Be Nintendo's Next Cinematic Leading… Ape
Donkey Kong is having a moment. This summer, not only did Mario's original foe get his first theme park ride in the United States, but he's also got Donkey Kong Bananza, his own mega game coming to Switch 2 later this week, and he might even be getting a movie sometime in the future. As of right now, we know there are two Nintendo movies in the works. A sequel to the mega-hit Super Mario Bros. movie scheduled for release April 3, 2026, as well as a live-action film based on The Legend of Zelda, which is coming May 7, 2027. That's important because it sets up a quote from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa that sent fan speculation into a frenzy a few weeks back. On an investors call, Furukawa said, 'Although we cannot discuss our plans beyond The Legend of Zelda movie at this time, we are working on various other projects.' What other projects? Well, soon after, it was discovered that Nintendo Studios and Universal Pictures filed a joint copyright for an 'Untitled Donkey Kong Project' that's classified as a 'motion picture.' io9 reached out to representatives for Universal and Nintendo for comment or clarification but had not yet heard back as of publication. We'll update this piece if or when we do. Since this appears to be a joint collaboration with Universal and Nintendo, it's safe to assume if a Donkey Kong movie is in the works, it could follow the character in animation. He appeared in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, after all, voiced by Seth Rogen, so maybe this would be an expansion of that world. Maybe it could even lead to other films in that universe—Wario, Luigi, Toad, etc. But for now, it seems like after the second Mario movie and the first Zelda movie, a Donkey Kong movie is on the way. And, with the character returning to the spotlight in such a big way this summer, we think it makes a lot of sense. What about you? Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
The Verge
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
A Donkey Kong movie is a safe bet for Nintendo's growing entertainment empire
It's looking like Nintendo might have a DK-sized addition to its feature film lineup. The company has filed a copyright notice for a motion picture listed as an 'Untitled Donkey Kong Project.' And last month, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said in an investors call that the company was working on more movies, explaining that 'although we cannot discuss our plans beyond The Legend of Zelda movie at this time, we are working on various other projects.' So even though a Donkey Kong movie isn't official just yet, it seems likely — and it would make a whole lot of sense for Nintendo. Nintendo's current foray into film got off to a great start. It partnered with Universal for The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which earned more than $1 billion and currently has a sequel in the works. It was a safe bet among a series of safe bets from Nintendo: taking one of the most iconic properties in games and adapting it alongside Universal's Illumination animation studio, the same team behind family-friendly blockbusters like Minions and Despicable Me. Nintendo used a similar tactic for its foray into theme parks, leading with Mario and the Mushroom Kingdom, and also partnering with Universal. Things will get trickier from there. While the Super Mario Bros. sequel seems like a fairly safe follow-up, the upcoming adaptation of The Legend of Zelda feels much riskier. Zelda games are as popular as they've ever been thanks to Switch-era releases Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, but taking a beloved fantasy world and translating it into a live-action film is more complicated than an animated Mario movie crafted by an established studio. The casting of Link and Zelda alone will likely bring much more scrutiny than Chris Pratt's Mario voice. Zelda director Wes Ball has had some success in the past, most recently with last year's Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, but nothing to suggest that the live-action take on Hyrule will be a guaranteed box office success. (And that's not even factoring Nintendo's questionable history with live-action films.) Given how calculated Nintendo tends to be, balancing out a risky bet like Zelda with a safer one like Donkey Kong makes a lot of sense. And the company has been priming DK for his breakout moment for years now. Not only did the character have a major role in the first Mario Bros. film (voiced by Seth Rogen), but a DK-themed area was the first expansion for the Super Nintendo World theme park in Osaka. DK is also playing a major role in the launch of the Switch 2. Following the launch title Mario Kart World, this week's Donkey Kong Bananza — developed by the same team behind Super Mario Odyssey — will be the console's second significant Nintendo exclusive. So this really is Donkey Kong's moment. The original game from 1981 was a pivotal point as Nintendo cemented its space in video games, introducing Mario to the world and also providing a taste of what creator Shigeru Miyamoto had in store for the future. Now, a few decades later, DK is playing a different but no less pivotal role in the company's biggest expansions, whether it's a theme park or new console — and, just maybe, his own movie.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nintendo Exploring Ways To Reduce High Cost Of Games
In a recent investor meeting, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa spoke of ways to deal with the rising cost of games on the Nintendo Switch 2. During the call, Furukawa spoke on a variety of concerns that have arisen alongside the success of the Nintendo Switch 2. One issue in particular was the 'higher game development cost, which in turn could result in higher software prices and ultimately a decrease in the gaming population.' On this, the Nintendo president said, 'Our development teams are devising various ways to maintain our traditional approach to creating games amidst the increasing scale and length of development.' Furukawa added, 'We also believe it is possible to develop game software with shorter development periods that still offer consumers a sense of novelty. We see this as one potential solution to the concern about rising development costs and software prices, and we will explore it from various angles within the company.' Furukawa also highlighted the importance of 'making necessary investments for more efficient development,' however, did not specify what that would entail. As integrating AI into the development process has been a controversial issue, Nintendo has sent out some conflicting messages with Furukawa stating it could be used in 'creative ways,' while Shigeru Miyamoto has said Nintendo would go in, 'a different direction.' Crunch is another potential concern of 'efficient development,' however, Nintendo has had a fairly decent track record in avoiding crunch during its development periods. While Nintendo looks to explore ways of reducing the cost of its games, it also seems somewhat commited to keeping prices where they are, as during the meeting the topic of the Switch 2 costing more than previous consoles came up, to which Fukuwara responded, 'We believe the pricing of Nintendo Switch 2 is appropriate for the gaming experience it offers. Nintendo has dropped the prices of its consoles in the past; however, with the Nintendo Switch 2 sales seemingly set to cross 5.4 million when official figures are released, it seems unlikely that Nintendo will find itself in a position where such a move is necessary.
Hypebeast
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Nintendo Expands Beyond the Console, Confirms More Film & TV Adaptations in the Works
Summary Building on the monumental success ofThe Super Mario the highly anticipated upcomingThe Legend of Zeldafilm,Nintendohas officially confirmed that it is actively working on'various other projects'in the visual media announcement, made by Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa, signals a significant expansion of the company's strategy to leverage its vast intellectual property beyond traditional video game platforms President Furukawa revealed at anAGM Q&Athat Nintendo is taking a deeply 'proactive approach' to these adaptations, rather than simply licensing its IPs to external film production companies. The company is 'deeply involved in production and makes investments as needed,' a strategy designed to maintain a strong commitment to the quality and authenticity of the final product. This hands-on method mirrors the successful collaboration seen with Illumination for The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed over $1.3 billion USD worldwide. This push into more film and TV content aligns with Nintendo's overarching strategy to 'expand the number of people who have access to Nintendo IP' and continuously invigorate its core integrated hardware-software business. While specific titles beyondThe Super Mario Bros. Movie 2(set for April 2026) and the live-actionThe Legend of Zelda(May 2027) remain under wraps, speculation is rife regarding which beloved franchises, fromMetroidtoKirbyorDonkey Kong, might be next to receive the big-screen treatment. This aggressive expansion into visual media underscores Nintendo's ambition to transform into a broader entertainment powerhouse. Take a look at President Furukawa's full response below when asked about the future of the company, 'We releasedThe Super Mario Bros. Moviein theaters in April 2023, and are pleased to say that it has been received positively by many people around the world. Looking ahead, we plan to release a new animated film based on the world ofSuper Mario April 2026, and a live-action movie ofThe Legend of Zeldain May 2027. Under our strategy of 'expanding the number of people who have access to Nintendo IP' to continuously invigorate our core integrated hardware-software business, we have been working on initiatives beyond our dedicated video game platforms for several years. Visual content is one such area. And rather than simply licensing our IP to film production companies, we are taking a proactive approach where Nintendo itself is deeply involved in production and makes investments as needed. This approach allows us to maintain a strong commitment to the quality of the final product. Although we cannot discuss our plans beyondThe Legend of Zeldamovie at this time, we are working on various other projects.'
