Although the film has been in talks for quite some time now, it has finally been announced that the Super Mario movie will be hitting screens in 2022. Helmed by Illumination Studios - the team behind the acclaimed Despicable Me trilogy, its Minions spinoff series, and the recent animated remake of The Grinch - Mario looks all set to make his first big-screen appearance since the unanimously panned Super Mario Bros film that debuted in 1993.
Of course, a huge part of any Mario project is the music, and it seems there's already a composer who would love nothing more than to get a crack at Illumination's take on the character. That musician is none other than Grant Kirkhope, the man behind the music for Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64, and Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle.
Speaking on the Kiwi Talkz podcast, Kirkhope claimed that his current goal is to get himself involved in the upcoming Illumination Studio project, with the hopes of composing for the adaptation. Although he claims the goal is one he's unsure he'll be able to complete, he cites his experience working with Nintendo on Mario + Rabbids, claiming that above all else, the company will want a composer who understands the property and can do it justice. "I know Mario and I know Nintendo. I know what they're like about protecting their music," he states when discussing the subject, making the point that his prior work has shown that he knows "how to respect Mario."
Unfortunately, Kirkhope seems to think that it's something of an unlikely goal, with the musician acknowledging that Illumination will likely bring in a Hollywood composer to tackle the film instead. However, it definitely seems like Kirkhope is going to fight to get himself in the running for the position, teasing that he has a few connections that he's hoping can get him closer to securing the role. Of course, the Super Mario movie is currently in the early stages of production, with the composer pointing out that there still isn't a director or producer attached to the project.
Seeing as Nintendo likes to ensure multimedia Mario products align with the quality of the franchise's video games, it would definitely make sense to hire somebody who's worked with the character in the format before. Regardless of his prior experience with Mario specifically, Grant Kirkhope is also just a legendary composer in the gaming scene, having worked on some of Rare's most iconic releases as well as a handful of other exceptional titles. Hopefully, his long list of credentials means he'll be able to helm the music for Mario's next cinematic adventure when it premieres in 2022.
The Super Mario movie is set to hit theaters in 2022.