300-rise-of-an-empireJunkie XL has taken over scoring duties on the upcoming action sequel 300: Rise of an Empire. The film is directed by Noam Murro and stars Sullivan Stapleton, Rodrigo Santoro, Eva Green, Callan Mulvey, Jack O’Connell and Lena Headey are co-starring. The movie follows the Greek general Themistocles as he battles an invading army of Persians under turned-god Xerxes. The original movie’s director Zack Snyder co-wrote the screenplay with Kurt Johnstad (Act of Valor, 300) based on Frank Miller’s novel and is also producing the Legendary Films production with Mark Canton & Gianni Nunnari (300, Immortals), Bernie Goldmann, Deborah Snyder (Man of SteelWatchmen) and Thomas Tull (42, Pacific Rim). Orchestral recording sessions for the film are set to start this coming Sunday. Junkie XL who is also known under his real name Tom Holkenborg is replacing Federico Jusid who was announced and credited on the film’s first poster as reported earlier this year. The composer’s previous film scoring credits include 2006’s action adventure DOA: Dead or Alive and Famke Janssen’s directorial debut Bringing Up Bobby. He has previously collaborated with Hans Zimmer on a number of films, including The Dark Knight Rises and the upcoming Man of Steel directed by Snyder. 300: Rise of the Empire will be released nationwide on August 2, 2013 by Warner Bros. Pictures. For updates on the film, visit the official movie website.

  1. Macejko says:

    Well, I hope it will be purely orchestral, not some electronical techno shit.

  2. Dave says:

    It is great to see Tom push through to the A list of composers. It is well deserved. He is by far the biggest talent walking around through composer Hollywood. Much more then an electronic producer. Hans Zimmer always finds talent and he has struck gold this time. Go Junkie!

  3. Yahzee says:

    … I’m sorry, but this movie is losing my interest more and more with every update. What was wrong with Tyler Bates or Federico Jusid?

  4. Justin Boggan says:

    Bates score was a plagarism fest, from Zimmer, to Yared, to Goldenthal. I think it’s in the studi’s interest to politely go with another composer, especially considering they publically put a message online that, as I recall, a settlement had been reached over the plagarism. I don’t have the full details, but apparently one composer sued (supposedly Goldenthal; this likely killed his career there). If anybody should have sued, it was him, and most especially Yared.

    Jusid? Probably didn’t give them the bland generic action score they were seeking for a “blockbuster” “film”. I’d love to hear what Jusid did (if anything at all).

  5. Cristian says:

    What about beatiful thorn by Sopor Aeternus, song from 1994, that really sounds like History of arthemisa” part of this movie soundtrack, just look at minute 3:00 and so forth.