The Kirby Movie (2019 film)

The Kirby Movie is a 2019 American animated fantasy adventure comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios, Nintendo and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It was directed by Carlos Saldanha, co-directed by Angus MacLane, and from a screenplay by John Krasinski and Michael McCullers. Based on Nintendo and HAL Laboratory's video game series Kirby. The film features Selena Gomez 
The Kirby Movie premiered on September 5, 2019, at the Regency Village Theatre and was theatrically released in the United States on September 13. It was a commercial success, the film received positive reviews from critics, with praise for its humor and performances. It grossed $935.7 million worldwide, becoming the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2019.
== Cast ==
* Selena Gomez as Kirby
== Production ==
=== Development ===
In June 2014, it was reported that Nintendo was close to closing a deal with Illumination and Universal Pictures to produce a film adaptation of Kirby film. However, Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri denied these reports later that month. According to Meledandri, he already produced The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2017). In November 2014, Nintendo announced that they were developing a Kirby film and John Lasseter announced that Pixar Animation Studios would make Kirby film. In March 2016, Nintendo announced that the film would progress with Shigeru Miyamoto, Galyn Susman, and John Cohen co-producing. 
In April 2017, following the success of Mario film, it announced that Blue Sky Studios veteran Carlos Saldanha would direct the film. Later that day, Saldanha confirmed to direct the film after doing Ferdinand (2017), with Angus MacLane co-direct the film, while John Krasinski and Michael McCullers attached the screenplay. According to Saldanha was joined, he pitched the idea of story of Lilo & Stitch (2002), Her (2013) and The Smurfs (2016). Animation ends in July 2019.
=== Casting ===
In June 2018, Selena Gomez joined to voice Kirby after voicing in Hotel Transylvania: Escape 2 Internet (2018). This marked a rare occasion in which the character would not be voiced by Makiko Ohmoto, who voices Kirby in most incarnations since 1999. Having enjoyed her performance, Miyamoto and Sakurai officially cast Gomez as the voice of Kirby. In July 2018, it was reported that Ginnifer Goodwin was in talks for a lead role as Grace, however, this was later denied by Disney. A day later, it was announced that Anna Kendrick was cast in an undisclosed role, but later revealed to be Grace Doyle. Jay Baruchel, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ricky Gervais, Gerard Butler, Angelina Jolie, Abbi Jacobson, Anna Faris, Jenny Slate, Cecily Strong, Mindy Kaling, Michelle Yeoh, and Jackie Chan were announced to joined the voice cast.
Animation
In test screenings, Saldanha was surprised to find that Donka was a popular character with children. The scene where Donka dances on a table with Kirby was a favorite scene for children, and Saldanha viewed this as "comedy there that they haven't seen before".
Music
In March 2019, Docter confirmed that Saldanha's frequent collaborator John Powell would compose the film's score. The soundtrack was released alongside the film on September 13, 2019, in both digital and physical formats alongside an original single titled "Colors", performed by Boots Ottestad and Jordy Searcy, which plays during the film's closing credits.