New Super Mario Bros. Movie Promo: Donkey Kong has a Need for Speed
Seth Rogen stars alongside Chris Pratt and Anya Taylor-Joy.
With each new day, gamers get closer and closer The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The animated video game adaptation based on the iconic Nintendo franchise from Universal and Illumination hits theaters in early April. Because of this, the marketing for the film has gone into overdrive with various promos highlighting each character in the Mushroom Kingdom. Now in the latest teaser Seth Rogen‘s Donkey Kong takes center stage.
It’s on like Donkey Kong!
In the short clip, Donkey Kong is living his best life in one Mario Kart inspired vehicle that drives at high speeds. Donkey Kong isn’t the most focused driver alive, having been seen shaking his booty on the hood of his kart while hunched over for good measure. The kart he’s in isn’t based on any particular vehicle Mario Kart, but rather an amalgamation of Kong’s rich 40+ year history. The yellow main color scheme and the banana decal on the gas tank are, of course, a tribute to the famous monkeys’ love for this fruit.
The biggest reference, however, is the two barrel rockets on the top of his kart. Barrels have become synonymous with the character, dating back to his very first appearance in Nintendo’s arcade classic Donkey Kong in 1981. Kong was the villain of that game, with the character throwing barrels at Jump Man, who was soon renamed Mario before his own game in 1985. The specific barrels on Kong’s kart in this promo first appeared in the SNES platformer Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble and would reappear in both Donkey Kong Country returns And Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. Just the sight of this jet-powered barrel is sure to bring back some humorous pent-up trauma in many players.
what is The Super Mario Bros. Movie Around?
Super Mario Bros. is dedicated to the two famous Italian plumber siblings Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) as they are drawn into the mushroom kingdom for the first time. The two are separated and Luigi is captured by the evil Bowser (JackBlack). This prompts Mario to enlist the help of Princess Peach (Anya Taylor Joy) to save his brother and thus the entire Mushroom Kingdom. That’s where Donkey Kong and the rest of the Kong family come in as they join the fight to save Luigi. The film seems, after all the marketing so far, to be a glowing love letter to the entire Mario universe. Given that Donkey Kong is one of the oldest characters in Nintendo history, it will be exciting to see what Rogen brings to this villain-turned-hero.
when does The Super Mario Bros. Movie share?
The Super Mario Bros. Movie will be released exclusively in cinemas on April 5, 2023. As Mario fans eagerly count down the days, you can check out the new Donkey Kong teaser below.
