Danny Elfman has signed on to score the upcoming biographical comedy drama Hitchcock. The film is directed by Sacha Gervasi (Anvil: The Story of Anvil, screenwriter of The Terminal) and follows the iconic director’s struggles during the filmmaking of the horror classic Psycho. Anthony Hopkins stars in the title role, alongside Scarlett Johansson and James D’Arcy who portray Psycho stars Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins, as well as Helen Mirren as Hitchcock’s wife Alma. Toni Collette, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jessica Biel and Danny Huston are also starring. Actor Paul Schackman appears as Psycho‘s composer Bernard Herrmann. John McLaughlin (Black Swan) has written the film’s script and Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters), Joe Medjuck (Disturbia, Old School), Tom Pollack and Tom Thayer are producing the Montecito Picture Company and Fox Searchlight Pictures production. Elfman has previously adapted Herrmann’s Psycho score for the 1998 remake directed by Gus Van Sant. Hitchcock is expected to be released in 2013.
Elfman has also recently scored the drama Promised Land. The film marks the composer’s sixth feature for director Gus Van Sant. They have previously collaborated on films including Good Will Hunting, Milk and To Die For. Promised Land stars Matt Damon as a corporate salesman who has his life turned around when he arrives in a rural town with his sales partner. John Krasinski, Rosemarie DeWitt, Hal Holbrook, Scoot McNairy, Titus Welliver and Frances McDormand are co-starring in the film. Damon and Krasinski have also written the screenplay based on a story by Dave Eggers (Where the Wild Things Are, Away We Go) and are producing the Focus Features production with Chris Moore (American Pie). Promised Land is set to be released in Los Angeles and New York on December 28, 2012 for an Oscar-qualifying run and will expand to other cities in January of next year.
Elfman’s music is also featured in David O. Russell’s comedy drama Silver Linings Playbook, which has just premiered to rave reviews at the Toronto Film Festival. The movie starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Julia Stiles, Jacki Weaver and Chris Tucker is based on the bestselling novel by Matthew Quick and follows a former high-school teacher who returns to his family home after eight months in a mental institution and begins to slowly rebuild his life. Donna Gigliotti, Bruce Cohen and Jonathan Gordon have produced the project. Silver Linings Playbook is set to open this Thanksgiving weekend. To learn more about the Weinstein Company production, visit the official movie website.
