The Super Mario Bros. Movie could already be setting up a Donkey Kong spinoff. There have been rumors for more than a year now that Seth Rogen's Donkey Kong character could get his own animated spinoff movie, but nothing has been confirmed just yet. As things stand, Nintendo and Illumination have no known plans for any future collaborations after The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
If Nintendo does want to use Mario's new movie to lead into more films, Donkey Kong would certainly be a candidate for a standalone story. Like Mario himself, he's headlined a long list of successful video games. His story also comes complete with its own world and a cast of characters for him to interact with. One in particular, Cranky Kong, is confirmed to appear in The Super Mario Bros Movie. And since it's made clear by the trailers that Donkey Kong's island home will be visited by Mario, other Donkey Kong characters could be on hand as well.
Donkey Kong's Natural Mario Villain Explained
The direction taken by the movie's story opens the door for Donkey Kong's archenemy to be introduced on the big screen. The second Mario trailer puts emphasis on the existence of multiple kingdoms threatened by Bowser's arrival. One of them could be the land of the Kremlings, a placed overrun with lizard-like creatures. Ruling over them in the games is King K. Rool. Recognized by his large belly, crown, and red cape, the King of the Kremlings was the main villain of the Donkey Kong Country trilogy and the Donkey Kong Country cartoon.
The evil King K. Rool has long had designs on Donkey Kong's banana hoard and his entire island. Similar to how Mario has to routinely fight off Bowser and his minions, Donkey Kong and his allies have been forced to contend with the various Kremlings that invade his home. In games like Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong's Quest and Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, the villain even succeeded in capturing Donkey Kong.
How The Super Mario Bros. Movie Can Introduce King K. Rool
Bowser's masterplan in The Super Mario Bros. Movie should make it easy for the story to find room for a King K. Rool cameo. The movie's central conflict involving Cranky Kong (who appears to be the king of Donkey Kong's world) and the penguin king serve as indications that one of Bowser's goals is to conquer the neighboring kingdoms in Mario's universe. If that's the case, it would make sense for King K. Rool to be relevant to the story. Since the Kremlings are fellow villains, it could be revealed that Bowser has a truce with King K. Rool, whose kingdom won't be harmed by the former's Koopa army. After the story is over, a post-credits scene could tease King K. Rool putting his own plans into motion. By giving Donkey Kong a villain to fight (and a fully-realized world to share adventures in), The Super Mario Bros. Movie can create the framework needed for a Donkey Kong spinoff.