Michael Andrews is the composer of the upcoming thriller Headlock. The film marks the feature directorial debut of actor/screenwriter/producer Mark Polish (The Astronaut Farmer, Nortfork) and stars himself, alongside Dianna Agron, Andy Garcia and Justin Bartha. The movie follows a new CIA recruit who is seriously injured during a mission, surviving only on life support, and his wife, a former CIA operative who becomes determined to find out what happened to her husband. Polish has also written the screenplay. Michael Benaroya (Lawless, Margin Call, Kill Your Darlings) is producing the project for Benaroya Pictures, alongside Janet Du Bois (Stay Cool, The Smell of Success).
Category: Film Scoring Assignments
Rolfe Kent Scoring ‘Tibetan Rock Dog’
Rolfe Kent is composing the music for the upcoming animated feature Tibetan Rock Dog. The film is directed by Ash Brannon (Toy Story 2, Surf’a Up) and features the voices of Luke Wilson, Mae Whitman, J.K. Simmons, Eddie Izzard, Matt Dillon, Sam Elliott and Jorge Garcia. The movie follows a wide-eyed Tibetan Mastiff who discovers a radio and decides to leave home to fulfill his dream of becoming a musician. The American/Chinese co-production is produced by Reel FX Creative Studios (Free Birds, The Book of Life) and Mandoo Pictures. The project marks Kent’s second animated film following this year’s French production The Prince and the 108 Demons.
John Williams to Reteam with Steven Spielberg on ‘The BFG’
DreamWorks Pictures announced today that John Williams will be reteaming with Steven Spielberg on the director’s upcoming family drama The BFG. The movie starring Mark Rylance and Ruby Barnhill is based on the book by Roald Dahl (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox) and tells the story of a young orphan girl and the mysterious friendly Giant who introduces her to Giant Country. Melissa Mathison (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Kundun) has adapted the material for the screen. Spielberg is also producing the project with Frank Marshall (The Bourne Series, The Sixth Sense, Poltergeist) and Sam Mercer (Signs, Unbreakable).
Thomas Newman to Score Steven Spielberg’s ‘Bridge of Spies’
Thomas Newman has been hired to score the upcoming spy thriller Bridge of Spies. The film is directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Scott Shepherd, Amy Ryan, Sebastian Koch and Alan Alda. The movie follows a Brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the Cold War when the CIA sends him on the near-impossible task to negotiate the release of a captured American U-2 pilot. Matt Charman (Suite Francaise) and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen (No Country for Old Men, Fargo, The Big Lebowkski) have written the screenplay. Spielberg is also producing the DreamWorks and Fox 2000 production with Marc Platt (Drive, Into the Woods, Legally Blonde) and Kristie Macosko Krieger.
Joseph Trapanese Scoring F. Gary Gray’s ‘Straight Outta Compton’
Joseph Trapanese mentioned in an interview with MTV that he is currently scoring the upcoming biographical drama Straight Outta Compton. The film is directed by F. Gary Gray and stars O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Ice Cube, Corey Hawkins as Dr. Dre, Jason Mitchell as Eazy-E, Aldis Hodge as MC Ren and Neil Brown, Jr. as DJ Yella. Paul Giamatti is co-starring as N.W.A.’s manager Jerry Heller. The movie is set in the mid-1980s and chronicles how five young men channeled their experiences growing up in Compton into brutally honest music and form the hip hop group N.W.A. Ice Cube and Dr. Dre are also producing the project with Matt Alvarez (Ride Along, Are We There Yet?) and Tomica Woods-Wright.
Alan Menken to Score Disney’s Live-Action ‘Beauty and the Beast’
Walt Disney Pictures has announced today that Alan Menken will be providing the score for the upcoming live action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. The film will also feature new original songs co-written by the composer and Sir Tim Rice, as well as new recordings of the songs from the 1991 animated classic that Menken penned with Howard Ashman. The live action version will be directed by Bill Condon (Dreamgirls, Kinsey, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn) and is set to star Emma Watson and Dan Stevens in the title roles. Luke Evans will portray Gaston, Emma Thompson will star as Mrs. Potts and Kevin Kline as Belle’s father, Maurice. Josh Gad has been cast to play Lefou. Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower) is writing the screenplay.
Alexandre Desplat to Score ‘Star Wars’ Spinoff ‘Rogue One’
Alexandre Desplat revealed in an interview on Radio Classique’s Culture Club that he will be reuniting with director Gareth Edwards on the upcoming Star Wars spinoff feature Rogue One. Felicity Jones is attached to star in the film, which is scripted by Chris Weitz (Cinderella, The Golden Compass). No plot details have been revealed yet, but the movie is said to be the first in a series of big-screen adventures that explores the characters and events beyond the core Star Wars saga. Kathleen Kennedy (Jurassic Park, The Sixth Sense, Lincoln) and Tony To (Band of Brothers, The Pacific) are producing the Lucasfilm production.
Douglas Pipes to Score ‘Krampus’
Legendary Pictures has announced that Douglas Pipes is set to score the upcoming horror comedy Krampus. The film is directed by Michael Dougherty (writer of X2 & Superman Returns) and stars Adam Scott, Toni Collette, Allison Tolman, David Koechner, Conchata Ferrell, Emjay Anthony, Stefania Owen and Krista Stadler. The movie follows a young boy who turns his back on Christmas as his dysfunctional family comes together and clashes over the holidays. When they accidentally unleash the wrath of Krampus — an ancient entity from European folklore — beloved holiday icons take on a monstrous life of their own. Dougherty has also co-written the screenplay with Zach Shields and Todd Casey (Thundercats) and is also producing the project with Legendary’s Thomas Tull & Jon Jashni (Godzilla, Pacific Rim, 300: Rise of an Empire) and Alex Garcia.
Christopher Lennertz to Score ‘Michelle Darnell’
Christopher Lennertz revealed in a recent interview with Skewed n’ Reviewed that he is set to score the upcoming comedy Michelle Darnell. The film is directed by Ben Falcone (Tammy) and stars Melissa McCarthy, Peter Dinklage, Kristen Bell, Kathy Bates and Timothy Simons. The movie follows a titan of industry, who is sent to prison after she’s caught for insider trading and later emerges ready to rebrand herself as America’s latest sweetheart. McCarthy and Falcone have also written the screenplay with Steve Mallory. The film will be produced by McCarthy and Falcone through their On the Day production company, alongside Will Ferrell, Chris Henchy & Adam McKay (Anchorman, Talladega Nights, The Other Guys) for Gary Sanchez Productions.
Dave Porter Scoring ‘Term Life’
Dave Porter has recently scored the upcoming thriller Term Life. The film is directed by Peter Billingsley (Couples Retreat) and stars Vince Vaughn, Hailee Steinfeld, Shea Whigham, Jonathan Banks, Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Bill Paxton, Jon Favreau, Cain Velasquez, and William Levy. The movie follows a criminal who takes out an insurance policy on himself to benefit his estranged daughter. A.J. Lieberman has written the screenplay based on the graphic novel he created with Nick Thornborrow. Vaughn is also producing the project with Wild West Picture Show’s Micah Mason & Victoria Vaughn, PalmStar’s Kevin Frakes (Laggies) and WWE Studios’ Michael Luisi (The Call).