John Williams is currently scoring the upcoming drama The Book Thief. The film is directed by Brian Percival (Downton Abbey) and stars Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson and Sophie Nelisse. The movie based on Markus Zusack’s best-selling novel is set in Germany during World War II and follows a girl who finds solace from the horrors around her by stealing books and sharing them with others while her adoptive parents are sheltering a Jewish refugee under the stairs of her home. Michael Petroni (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Rite) has adapted the material for the screen. Karen Rosenfelt (The Twilight Saga, Marley & Me) and Ken Blancato are producing the Fox 2000 and Studio Babelsberg production. The Book Thief marks Williams’ first scoring assignment for another director than Steven Spielberg since 2005.
Tag: John Williams
John Williams to Score ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy announced today at Star Wars Celebration Europe that John Williams will return to score the upcoming sci-fi fantasy sequel Star Wars: Episode VII. J.J. Abrams is directing the film and Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3, Little Miss Sunshine) is writing the screenplay. No plot details have been announced yet, but the characters of the original trilogy, including Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) are expected to return. Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg serve as consultants, alongside George Lucas. Williams has scored all previous six episodes of the Star Wars saga. Check out a video interview with the composer about his involvement in the upcoming seventh installment after the jump (via StarWars.com). Star Wars: Episode VII is set to be released in 2015 by Walt Disney Pictures.
Varese Sarabande to Present Music from the Star Wars Universe Concert
Varèse Sarabande Records continues their 35th anniversary celebration with a special tribute performance by the Golden State Pops Orchestra (GSPO) celebrating the Star Wars legacy on June 15, 2013. The Music from the Star Wars Universe concert will feature musical selections from various Star Wars projects including the classic scores composed by John Williams, including Star Wars: Main Title, Imperial March, Princess Leia’s Theme, and Across the Stars from Attack of the Clones. In addition, Varèse will celebrate Joel McNeely‘s release for his score to Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire, which will also be performed. Also featured will be music from Star Wars video games, spin-off films and fan films. The concert will take place at the Warner Grand Theatre at 478 W 6th Street in San Pedro, CA on Saturday, June 15, 2013. To buy tickets for the concert, visit GSPO’s official website.
Weekly Film Music Roundup (April 5, 2013)
Two new movies are opening wide this weekend:
Expected to top the weekend box office is the horror reboot Evil Dead directed by Fede Alvarez and starring Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas and Elizabeth Blackmore. The film’s music is written by Spanish composer Roque Banos (The Machinist, Sexy Beast). La-La Land Records will release a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score digitally on April 9. A physical release featuring more than 25 minutes of additional music is set to be released on May 7. The full album details will be posted on this website within the next couple of days. For a recent interview with Banos about his work on the film, visit Film Music Magazine and also check out ASCAP’s We Create Music blog for an article on the music.
Also opening wide is the Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park 3D based on the novel by Michael Crichton and starring Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Samuel L. Jackson and Richard Attenborough. The movie’s music is composed and conducted by John Williams. Geffen Records has released a 20th Anniversary soundtrack edition featuring the content of the original album, as well as four previously unreleased tracks. For the full album details, check out our soundtrack announcement.
‘Jurassic Park’ 20th Anniversary Soundtrack Released
Geffen Records has released a new soundtrack album for Steven Spielberg’s classic 1993 adventure hit film Jurassic Park. The album includes the content of the original soundtrack album featuring the movie’s original score composed and conducted by John Williams, as well as four previously unreleased tracks. The soundtrack is now available to download on iTunes, where you can also listen to audio clips. No word yet on a physical release. The 20th Anniversary edition coincides with the film’s 3D release next month. Jurassic Park 3D based on the novel by Michael Crichton and starring Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Samuel L. Jackson and Richard Attenborough will be released nationwide on April 5, 2013 by Universal Pictures.
Expanded ‘The Fury’ Score Released
La-La Land Records has announced an expanded and remastered reissue of the score for Brian De Palma’s 1978 horror drama The Fury starring Kirk Douglas, John Cassavetes, Charles Durning and Amy Irving. The music is composed and conducted by John Williams. The 2-CD set features the film score and bonus tracks on one disc, and the remastered original soundtrack album on the other disc. The album is limited to 3500 copies and is now available to order on the label’s official website, where you can also listen to audio clips. Check out the track list after the jump.
SCL Hosts Annual Oscar Nominees Reception
This afternoon, the Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL) hosted its annual reception honoring the Academy Award-nominated composers and songwriters in the Best Original Score and Best Original Song category at the home of composer John Cacavas in Beverly Hills. All five nominated composers in the score category attended the event: John Williams (Lincoln), Dario Marianelli (Anna Karenina), Alexandre Desplat (Argo), Mychael Danna (Life of Pi) and Thomas Newman (Skyfall). Among the attendants in the Best Original Song category were J. Ralph (nominated for the song Before My Time from Chasing Ice), Claude-Michel Schonberg, Herbert Kretzmer & Alain Boublil (nominated for the original song Suddenly from Les Miserables), Mychael Danna and Bombay Jayashri (who received a nomination for Pi’s Lullaby from Life of Pi), Walter Murphy (nominated for the song Everybody Needs a Best Friend from Ted with Seth MacFarlane) and Paul Epworth (nominated for the title song of Skyfall with Adele).
Oscar-Nominated Composers in Conversation
John Williams was featured today in a news segment on CNN about his 48 Academy Award nominations. The five-time Oscar-winning who is up for the award this Sunday for his score for Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln talks about his nomination, his past work and his collaboration with the director. The Academy has also published short videos interviews with three of the nominated composers: first time nominee Mychael Danna who received a nod for Ang Lee’s Life of Pi, Alexandre Desplat who is nominated for his music for Ben Affleck’s Argo and Thomas Newman who received his 11th nomination for Sam Mendes’ James Bond film Skyfall. Check out all videos after the jump.
John Williams Wins Critics’ Choice Movie Award for ‘Lincoln’
John Williams was honored with the Critics’ Choice Movie Award in the Best Score category for his music for Steven Spielberg’s historical drama Lincoln at tonight’s 18th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. The other composers nominated in the Best Score category were Alexandre Desplat (Argo, Moonrise Kingdom), Mychael Danna (Life of Pi) and Jonny Greenwood (The Master). Williams is also nominated for a Golden Globe, a BAFTA Award and has just received his 49th Academy Award nomination earlier today. The composer’s soundtrack for Lincoln is available on Sony Classical.
New Soundtrack Editions for ‘Die Hard With a Vengeance’, ‘The Untouchables’ and ‘Home Alone 2’ Announced
La-La Land Records has announced three new limited soundtrack editions. First up is a release of the expanded score for the 1995 action thriller sequel Die Hard With A Vengeance directed by John McTiernan and starring Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson and Jeremy Irons. The 2CD-set feature the score composed by Michael Kamen (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Lethal Weapon) as written for the film, as well as several rejected cues. The album is limited to 4000 copies. Visit the label’s official Facebook website to check out the full track list of the release.