Legendary video game composer, Grant Kirkhope, recently revealed on the podcast Kiwi Talkz that his goal in the immediate future is to compose for Illumination's CGI Mario Movie - scheduled to make its big-screen debut in 2022.
Kirkhope feels he knows Mario enough at this stage after working on Mario + Rabbids (and even composing Banjo-Kazooie music for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate) and believes he's someone who could help bring Mario to life on the silver screen.
"I know Mario and I know working with Nintendo, I know what they're like about protecting their music, and they're very....they want you to respect the character and I've got that, I know how to respect Mario and I really think I could do a good job with the Mario movie."
His concern is that he'll "probably" get nowhere near it, because they'll hire some "Hollywood triple-A guy" instead, but he still thinks he could do a good job.
"So I'm trying to get myself in the frame for that, I have a few little connections that are probably going to go nowhere, but I'm actively trying to do something about that...but I doubt very strongly I'd get anywhere near it."
Not long after this, Kirkhope restated his case as to why he should be given this opportunity:
"Nintendo know me well, so like you know...Nintendo are going to be super protective about that IP because that's their biggest IP they have."
"They know how respecful I am of their properties, they've worked with me before, they know that I'm completely easy to work with, I'll do whatever they want, so you know I feel like...I just feel like you know, I could do a good job."
"I would pour my entire life and soul into that project for as long as it takes to make it briiliant."
A Change.org petition has now been set up to help Grant Kirhope get noticed by Nintendo and Universal and score his dream job after he joked to "get a petition going". Feel free to sign it yourself and show your support.
Would you like to see this industry legend compose for the upcoming Super Mario movie? Tell us down below and be sure to spread the word.
[source youtu.be]
Comments (51)
It could then star Yoshi, with a mario in his backpack
@Slowdive Yeah, they could also ask the people who compose music for all the other Mario games.
I loved his music for Mario + Rabbids, so I’d be in favor of him getting the job.
Now I want to see a Rabbids cameo in the Mario movie. They are soooooo much better than those annoying illumination minions. I'd rather hear a "bwaaaah" than "banana"
I mean after Mario X Rabbids, I’d say he’s as good a name to consider as any other unless Koji Kondo invokes his right of “dibs”, in which case, he had all rights to call dibs. And then you go with Koji Kondo.
Trent Reznor would be good to compose any of Bowser's movie music pieces.
@RustedHero I'm now imagining Bowser's reveal in the movie playing to Chris Vrenna's Doom 3 title screen theme.
They may well go with some industry guy.
But he makes a great point in Nintendo really valuing their IPs and by extension the music that goes along with it. I would think they would seriously consider someone who has some experience with their property and has as much investment in getting this right as they do.
Not Grant Kirkhope! Koji Kondo should do it!
I think Grant Kirkhope would be a great choice for composing the music in the Mario movie. His tunes are very whimsical and fun, which would fit the world of Mario. Working on Mario + Rabbids also helps a lot, but aside from that, he’s probably grown up playing Mario games as well throughout his life if he realizes that Nintendo sees Mario as this sacred, legendary, “do not destroy” kind of property. Considering he composed for Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong 64, he probably played at least Super Mario 64 in order to see how it is compared to the other N64 3D platformers.
Although, Koji Kondo composing the Mario movie would be epic...
I love grant, amazing guy and would love to see him do the music
If I was Nintendo I would hire for my Mario Movie the Hollywood AAA composer and both ex-Rare composers, Kirkhope and Wise as well as Kondo of course.
thank goodness it's not live action
I was actually listening to the Kingdoms of Amalur soundtrack he composed last night, thinking his style would work perfectly for a film. If he were to get this job, I would actually love that.
Lmao imagine if Chris Huelsbeck did Mario music
@Collette hello Mario+Rabbids.
Grant Kirkhope is a amazing composer and this music prove, why wount you need a composer with this kinda of quality in music?
https://youtu.be/-ZYLOtk13bc
@Collette
Mario + Rabbids was amazing though?
This summer...
everyone's favorite plumber...
is coming to the big screen
cuts to bowser voiced by Adam Sandler: What a bummer!
Ke$ha starts playing WAKE UP IN THE MORNING FEELING LIKE IM P DIDDY
Mario wakes up giddy for the morning as Peach is carried away in the distance, his alarm is still going off and he can't hear her, scrolls through some messages, looks up as he's about to read "princess peach kidnapped" remember to take up luigi, who's alarm is the local radio "in other news, princess peach has been-"
Mario, voiced by Aziz Ansari "It's a me! Your brother, Mario! We need to get an early start on our day if we're going to get anything done!"
Luigi, voiced by Owen Wilson, "just go on without me, man"
Mario: "but together we are the super Mario brothers! Without you I'm just... Regular Mario Brother."
two brothers will find themselves...
Mario "what?! Peach is missing?"
Luigi "really?"
and maybe Peach
Mario "and bowser took her?"
Luigi "wow REALLY?"
but first they have to find Bowser
bowser: "I know what girls like!"
presents a bundle of fire flowers to Peach "fire flower?"
Peach kicks him in the balls
"AAAAA My fire balls!"
who might need to be saved from peach
peach, voiced by who do you ***** think, it's Kristen Schaal "I keep inviting you to go kart riding, to play golf, to parties, and even to the Olympic Games AND THIS IS HOW YOU TREAT ME?!"
this summer is going to be
montage of slap stick
bowser twerking
Mario "aaawkward"
this summer is going to be...
montage that's pretty much the inevitable dance party ending
toad doing a head spin
"LIIIIIIIIT"
this summer is going to be!
*montage of every time they say "super" in the movie
SUPER
Super Mario Bros.
@PBandSmelly I hate how believable this reads.
It should be Koji Kondo. And they should make a new game rather than let those awful people in Hollywood ruin the Mario series. Still time to cancel it.
Has Grant Kirkhope ever scored a movie, before? It's quite a bit different than scoring a game. I wish him the best, would love to see him get his dream, but also kinda hope they get someone who scores movies.
@RustedHero I love Trent Reznor's music. Into The Void is one of my favorites. I'm really excited about his work on Soul!
Funny how Nintendo are super protective of their Mario IP.
Koji Kondo had no problems blatantly ripping off The Square's Work.
@aaronsullivan no but his music style resemble very well a movie soundtrack, specially the style of Danny Elfman and Jon Wilams musics.
@Euler Ahh so you've seen the movie and you know it sucks? Quite an achievement considering it hasn't been made yet
And wow I never realised that making movies gets in the way of making games, all this time I thought Japanese game developers and American movie makers were separate.
He's the composer of the bunch, Nintendo knows him well
He's finally back to write some tracks
Grant Kirkhope or Koji Kondo would be awesome!
If they do pick up a Hollywood A lister composer instead though, I'd maybe go for Michael Giacchino. He did The Incredibles and that jazz theme is brilliant and I think that type of style could work for a Mario movie.
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) I read somewhere that Akira Yamaoka was going to pen the score.
@LilMuku Track record. There's a reason why "it's good, for a video game movie" is a common saying.
@Euler Sonic was great, Detective Pikachu was great, also Miyamoto is working on this movie with the studio that made Despicable Me and Minions so.
Also I'm glad you didn't respond to the second half of my comment, I was worried
If it’s not Kondo, Kirkhope would be my next pick.
@Mattiac ***** him. That old fart is getting out blander compositions by the day.
I love Grant. Hopefully he will get his wish.
@X68000
What does this comment mean?
At this point music isn’t that important Nintendo has plenty to choose from in the games. I hope they’re not planning on doing sing alongs on the movie like they did on super Mario world show. I’m hoping that they would explain Mario and Luigi by going back to their baby years in yoshi’s time to when they became adult plumbers. But most of all I just hope this movie doesn’t suck. I’m already disappointed at the Mario kart ride they have at Super Nintendo world.
@RustedHero haha i got that reference.
@UmbreonsPapa cough Mario Bros live action film cough
@Tempestryke I'm quite aware of the movie. I'm not really sure what that has to do with my post. Unless he composed the music for that movie. Then, I would hope Nintendo would think twice about considering anyone involved with it to.be involved with this one
@UmbreonsPapa Sorry, it was partly a joke and also I meant that I don't recall the original film having any mario bros music in it.
I'd prefer the creator of the original and most iconic Mario themes, Koji Kondo. Naoto Kubo did a fantastic job with Odyssey and I suspect that Nintendo and Illumination may trust him to do the movie's original score. Also, being that Illumination is doing the movie, I wouldn't be surprised if along with the soundtrack they get an artist/producer like Pharrell to make a pop song for the movie ala 'Happy', which would be massive for Nintendo.
I have a lot of concerns about the movie, the writers will have to be creative with the source material and elevate it or they risk Nintendo never licensing their IP for minor projects again.
The composer of Super Mario Galaxy would be a good choice if Kondo isn't available.
Can someone please explain to me the hate (or dislike) of Illumination, and why people are worried they're going to mess up the Mario movie?
I like their movies, they're not Disney (or Pixar) quality, but I believe do a good job with the upcoming Mario Movie.
@Mr_Persona
It never was live action, to begin with.
@Ninjalaislit just saying stranger. Like have you noticed many bad video games movies been live action. Like hello even a MH live action movie is coming out next year.
Just going to edit this and make it clear. What l mean is thank goodness it won't be a live action video game movie like the other movies based off from video games. Sonic for example
@PBandSmelly l can read this instead of watching the movie xD
@Mr_Persona
Oh haha. Good point.
I mean, Ready Player One, Detective Pikachu, and Sonic were good (IMO) and those were live action.
So, had you heard it was animated and are glad that it is, or is this the first time that you're hearing that the upcoming Mario movie is animated?
I personally think Nintendo won't allow anyone to make a live action with a "10 foot pole", unless the upcoming Mario movie is successful, and even then they still may not anyone to make a live action movie of their IP's.
@Ninjalaislit It will be a lot of work to make a live action movie of mario because he is very cartoony that he doesn't have much of a real body of a human and a lot of other things. So yeah it will be a lot of money and that's why its good its not live action.
And yes l an happy it's not live action. Too bad MH isn't animated..
@Mr_Persona
Haha, good point.
We all know what happened last time Mario went live action.
Hopefully the MH movie will be good. I'm not a fan of the series, but would still like it to do well.
Are you thinking the upcoming Mario movie will be good?
@Ninjalaislit Maybe it will be good. Longs they make the characters to stay with same personalities that they have from the games and hope they won't mess with the story.
@Mr_Persona
Okay, that makes sense.
I feel like the upcoming Mario movie won't be messed up, because of how heavily Miyamoto is involved.
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