John Debney has been hired to score the upcoming animated feature Ice Age: Collision Course. The film is directed by Mike Thurmeier (Ice Age: Continental Drift) and features the voices of Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Seann William Scott, Josh Peck, Simon Pegg, Keke Palmer, Wanda Sykes, Jennifer Lopez, Stephanie Beatriz, Adam DeVine, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Max Greenfield, Jessie J, Nick Offerman, Melissa Rauch, Michael Strahan and Neil deGrasse Tyson. In the fifth part of the series, Scrat sparks a new series of cosmic events that threaten the Ice Age world with a potentially apocalyptic meteor shower.
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Weekly TV Music Roundup (March 27, 2016)
Premiering on Wednesday, March 30, is the new Hulu original series The Path created by Jessica Goldberg, executive produced by Jason Katims and starring Aaron Paul, Michelle Monaghan, Hugh Dancy and Rockmond Dunbar. The show’s original music is composed by Will Bates (Another Earth, I Origins, The Magicians). To learn more about the drama, which follows a family at the center of a controversial cult movement, check out our scoring assignment announcement.
Premiering on Thursday, March 31, is the CBS drama Rush Hour developed by Bill Lawrence & Blake McCormick based on Brett Ratner’s hit film franchise and starring Justin Hires, John Foo, Wendie Malick, Aimee Garcia, Page Kennedy and Jessika Van. The composer duo of WAZ-Jackson (Scrubs, Cougar Town, Undateable) is composing the show’s original music. To learn more about the series, which will air every Thursday night on CBS, visit our previous news article.
Danny DeVito’s ‘Curmudgeons’ to Feature Music by Jon Brion
Jon Brion is composing the music for the short film Curmudgeons. The movie is directed by Danny DeVito and stars himself, alongside David Margulies, Lucy DeVito, Sarah Nina Hayon and Kett Turton. The comedy follows a pair of senior citizens who have a relationship that shocks both their families. Joshua Conkel has written the screenplay. Danny & Lucy DeVito are also producing the project with Jake DeVito.
Dominic Lewis Scoring Jodie Foster’s ‘Money Monster’
Dominic Lewis has taken over scoring duties on the dramatic thriller Money Monster. The movie is directed by Jodie Foster and stars George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O’Connell, Dominic West, Giancarlo Esposito and Caitriona Balfe. The film follows a bombastic television stock huckster whose program and life are taken hostage by an outraged gunman. Alan DiFiore & Jim Kouf (National Treasure, Rush Hour) and Jamie Linden (We Are Marshall, Dear John) have written the screenplay. Clooney is also producing the project with Grant Heslov (Argo, The Ides of March), Daniel Dubiecki (Up in the Air) and Lara Alameddine.
Weekly Film Music Roundup (March 25, 2016)
Two new movies are opening nationwide this weekend:
Guaranteed to top the weekend box office is Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice starring Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter and Gal Gadot. The film’s original music is composed by Hans Zimmer (The Dark Knight, Man of Steel) and Junkie XL (Deadpool, Mad Max: Fury Road, 300: Rise of an Empire). WaterTower Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the composers’ score in several different versions. Check out our previous article for the full album details. Also visit Collider and Consequence of Sounds for interviews with both composers about their work on the project.
Also opening wide is the romantic comedy sequel My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 directed by Kirk Jones and starring Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine, Andrea Martin, Ian Gomez, Alex Wolff, Elena Kampouris, John Stamos, Rita Wilson and Joey Faton. Christopher Lennertz (Ride Along, Agent Carter, Horrible Bosses) has composed the film’s original music. Back Lot Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score, as well as songs by The Bangles, Mandisa, Helena Paparizo & more. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details.
‘Altamira’ Soundtrack Announced
EMI Records will release a soundtrack album for the period drama Altamira. The album features the film’s original music composed by singer/songwriter Mark Knopfler, who previously scored such films as The Princess Bride and Wag the Dog, and Evelyn Glennie. The soundtrack will be released on April 1, 2016 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon, where you can also check out audio samples. Altamira is directed by Hugh Hudson (Chariots of Fire) and stars Antonio Banderas, Golshifteh Farahani, Nicholas Farrel, Henry Goodman, Pierre Niney, Clément Sibony, Allegra Allen and Rupert Everett. The movie tells the story of the man who realized one of the most important discoveries of the 19th century: Altamira’s caves.
‘Barbershop: The Next Cut’ Soundtrack Details
Atlantic Records will release a soundtrack album for the comedy sequel Barbershop: The Next Cut. The album features the songs from the film by artists including Ice Cube, Common, CeeLo Green, Aloe Blacc, Earth Wind & Fire, Curtis Mayfield, James Brown, Lizzo, Kem & more. The soundtrack will be released on April 8, 2016 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon. Barbershop: The Next Cut is directed by Malcolm D. Lee and stars Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, Regina Hall, Anthony Anderson, Eve, Nicki Minaj, Common and JB Smoove. The third installment in the Barbershop series takes place 10 years after the last part and follows Eddie and his longtime crew whose once male-dominated sanctuary is now co-ed.
Craig Armstrong, Ennio Morricone & Bear McCreary Honored at ASCAP Screen Music Awards
Last night, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) held its annual Screen Music Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Craig Armstrong was honored with the ASCAP Henry Mancini Award, which is given to composers for outstanding achievements and contributions to the world of music for film, television and visual media. The Grammy Award- and Golden Globe-winning composer was presented the award by ASCAP president Paul Williams and director Oliver Stone who collaborated with Armstrong on the features World Trade Center, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps and the upcoming Snowden, as well as the docu-series The Untold History of the United States.
‘Empire’ Season 2 Volume 2 Soundtrack Announced
Columbia Records has announced a new soundtrack album for the Fox hit series Empire. The album features the song Never Let It Die by Jussie Smollett and Yazz, and the first radio single, All Night, featuring Yazz, Serayah and Jamila Velazquez. Also included are more songs from the second part of the second season of the drama. The Season 2 Volume 2 soundtrack will be released on April 29, 2016 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon. The label has previously released soundtracks featuring music from the first season and the first part of the second season. Empire created by Lee Daniels & Danny Strong follows the head of a music empire whose three sons and ex-wife all battle for his throne.
Joel P. West to Score Joel David Moore’s ‘Youth in Oregon’
Joel P. West has been hired to score the upcoming indie comedy Youth in Oregon. The film is directed by Joel David Moore (Spiral) and stars Frank Langella, Billy Crudup, Christina Applegate, Mary Kay Place, Josh Lucas, Nicola Peltz and Alex Shaffer. The movie follows a man who is tasked with driving his embittered 80-year-old father-in-law cross country to be legally euthanized in Oregon, while along the way helping him rediscover a reason for living. Andrew Eisen has written the screenplay. Stefan Nowicki, Joey Carey & Morgan White (Jack of the Red Hearts, Dark Was the Night) are producing the project.