Nintendo Reportedly Planning a Big Movie Slate Packed With Fan-Favorite Characters

It sounds like Nintendo is gearing up to pump out a lot more films. After the massive success of its recent animated hit, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, there’s a rumor that Nintendo has a surprisingly large slate of films in various stages of development, and we could be looking at a full-blown cinematic universe built around some of gaming’s most iconic characters. 

According to insider @MyTimeToShineHello, Nintendo is currently discussing a lineup that includes at least half a dozen movies, with some already moving forward and others still being figured out. None of these are expected to hit in 2026, but the long-term roadmap is what’s interesting here.

A Donkey Kong movie is reportedly deep into development and targeting a 2028 release, which is a project that feels inevitable at this point. The character has already been positioned as a major player in Nintendo’s broader entertainment strategy, especially with theme park integration and his popularity from the Mario films.

On the Mario side of things, work has already started on Mario 3, with a 2029 release in mind. That’s not much of a shock considering how the previous films teased future storylines and characters. It’s clear Nintendo and Illumination are playing the long game here.

Then there’s Star Fox, which is said to be in development for a potential 2030 release. That one feels like a natural fit for a cinematic adaptation, especially given its space combat roots and cinematic influences. The seed has already been planted for that, so this could be one of the more exciting projects if it comes together.

Some of the other titles are a bit earlier in the process. Kirby is in early development, while Luigi’s Mansion and Yoshi’s Island are both still in the pitching phase as Nintendo looks for the right creative teams. Pikmin is also in a similar spot, with writers being sought out to crack the story.

There are even more surprising ideas floating around. Despite previous statements suggesting otherwise, a Super Smash Bros. movie is reportedly being planned, though it wouldn’t arrive until after Star Fox. That’s a massive crossover concept, and it raises a lot of questions about how Nintendo would even approach something like that.

On top of that, there are mentions of potential spinoffs like Bowser-focused stories and a Princess Peach & Rosalina movie. Universal is also reportedly trying to secure rights to Metroid and other Nintendo properties, which opens the door to even more genres and styles of storytelling.

Some of these ideas feel like natural extensions of what Nintendo has already been building. Luigi’s Mansion, for example, seemed almost teased with Luigi’s scenes in earlier films. Others, like Yoshi’s Island, might be a bit trickier to adapt, especially for fans who hold the original game in high regard.

Kirby is an interesting case too. The character already proved he can carry a story with Kirby: Right Back At Ya!, which ran for 100 episodes across Japan and the U.S. Still, translating that charm into a modern animated movie will take some creativity, especially since Kirby isn’t exactly known for long stretches of dialogue.

As for Super Smash Bros., not long ago, Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto previously shut down the idea of a crossover film. If this rumor is accurate, it suggests plans may have shifted, or that the project is still early enough that nothing is set in stone.

As for Pikmin and Metroid, those feel like bigger creative challenges. Pikmin’s tiny-scale storytelling isn’t the easiest to adapt, while Metroid almost feels better suited for a more serious, possibly live-action take. Still, if Nintendo finds the right teams, both could end up being something special.

For now, it’s all rumor and speculation, but it lines up with what we’ve been seeing from Nintendo lately. The company is clearly interested in expanding its reach beyond games, and with the kind of box office success it’s already seen, it makes sense to keep building.