The Super Mario Bros. Movie has already spoiled Donkey Kong's role in Mario's big-screen adventure. Voiced by Seth Rogen, the iconic Nintendo hero will be one of several classic characters encountered by Mario on his journey. The trailer for the new movie provided a tease of Donkey Kong's involvement in the story, as well as a close look at his design for the film.
Donkey Kong stands out as one of the most interesting additions to Nintendo's The Super Mario Bros. Movie. While it's true that D.K. was introduced alongside Mario in 1981's Donkey Kong game, the two characters have since branched apart, with each headlining their own franchise and only coming together for crossovers. Given that he, Diddy Kong, Cranky Kong, and everyone else in the D.K. family have occupied their own world for decades, there wasn't an obvious place for him or Cranky Kong in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
What The Super Mario Bros. Movie Has Revealed About Donkey Kong's Story
Curiously, the Super Mario Bros. Movie trailer has provided a surprising amount of context regarding where D.K. fits into the grand scheme of things. In the trailer, he was seen fighting Mario in an arena with hundreds of Kongs watching. Cranky appears to be their leader. At the end, D.K. and countless other apes were shown racing down Rainbow Road with Mario leading the way. This paints a picture of what the movie has in store for D.K. By all indications, Mario will venture into Donkey Kong's home, have a fight with him, and recruit both him and the rest of his people for the final battle with Bowser.
Based on how the trailer depicts the threat posed by Bowser, it makes sense that Mario will need help defeating him. And it's not hard to see why Donkey Kong and his fellow apes would join forces with Mario by the end of the movie. With Peach making a comment about all the "galaxies" that are endangered by what's coming, it's apparent that the Mushroom Kingdom isn't the only world at risk in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. So regardless of what happens in their fight, it's already been made abundantly clear that it'll culminate in both Nintendo heroes making a united stand against Bowser and his minions.
Will Other Donkey Kong Characters Appear?
Since Donkey Kong won't be alone when he shows up, it's well within the realm of possibility that other characters from the Donkey Kong Country games aside from D.K. and Cranky Kong will be featured in The Super Mario Bros. Movie as members of his community. It's worth noting that a character resembling Kiddy Kong was briefly spotted in the Rainbow Road scene in the trailer. Kiddy, Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, Candy Kong, and Dixie Kong could also be incorporated into the story and could be used to help build a world for Donkey Kong in case he ever gets to lead his own spinoff movie.