Michael Giacchino Reteaming With Director Taika Waititi on ‘Next Goal Wins’

Composer Michael Giacchino is reteaming Taika Waititi on Searchlight Pictures’, Next Goal Wins, Film Music Reporter.

The film is based on the 2014 documentary of the same name by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison, about Dutch-American coach Thomas Rongen’s efforts to lead the American Samoa national football team, considered the weakest football team in the world, to qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Michael Fassbender will star as Rongen, who is tasked with turning the American Samoa national team, considered one of the weakest football teams in the world, into an elite squad. He is joined by Elisabeth Moss, Kaimana, Beulah Koale, Rachel House, Uli Latukefu, Rhys Darby, Oscar Kightley, David Fane, Frankie Adams, Angus Sampson, and Will Arnett.

In December 2021, it was announced that previously announced cast member Armie Hammer was replaced by Will Arnett in reshoots, in part due to abuse allegations made against Hammer in January 2021. The part, initially meant as a cameo, was expanded upon when Arnett joined.

 Waititi is directing the movie and also co-wrote the screenplay with Iain Morris (The Inbetweeners). Film Rites’ Garrett Basch (Devs, Those Who Wish Me Dead) is producing the project with Imaginarium Productions’ Jonathan Cavendish (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Elizabeth: The Golden Age), and Archer’s Mark Mike Brett & Steve Jamison who served as producers on the documentary. 

This becomes Giacchino and Waititi’s third collaboration together previously working on Thor: Love and Thunder and Jojo Rabbit. Giacchino has put himself in the conversation for Disney Legend having scored high-profile Disney projects such as The Incredibles, The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz, Sky High, Ratatouille, Up, Cars 2, John Carter, Tomorrowland, Inside Out, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Zootopia, Rogue One, Coco, and Incredibles 2. He has also composed the musical scores for many Marvel movies including Doctor Strange and the Tom Holland-led Spider-Man trilogy.

Up next for Giacchino is Jurassic World: Dominion, which hits theaters this week, and Pixar’s Lightyear the following week. The Academy Award-winning composer is making the leap to the director chair helming the upcoming Marvel Studios Werewolf By Night Halloween special.