Two new movies are opening nationwide this weekend:
Guaranteed to top the weekend box office is Disney’s live-action adaptation of Cinderella directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Stellan Skarsgard, Holliday Grainger, Sophie McShera, Derek Jacobi and Helena Bonham-Carter. The film’s original music is composed by Patrick Doyle (Sense and Sensibility, Thor, Rise of the Planet of the Apes). Walt Disney Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score, as well the film’s songs including the original end titles track Strong written by Doyle, Branagh & Tommy Danvers and performed by Sonna Rele. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details. Also visit We Are Movie Geeks, Go See Talk, Film.Music.Media, AndroidTV and HeyUGuys for interviews with Doyle about his work on the film.
Playing in front of Cinderella is Disney’s new animated short Frozen Fever directed by Jennifer Lee & Chris Buck and featuring the voices of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad. Christophe Beck (Edge of Tomorrow, The Muppets, The Hangover) who scored 2013’s feature has also composed the score for the short film, while Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Bobby Lopez have contributed a new original song. Visit The Hollywood Reporter to listen to a 2-minute suite from Beck’s original score. Also check out our previous news article for more information about the project.
Junkie XL is currently working on the score for the upcoming post-apocalyptic action film Mad Max: Fury Road. The film is directed by George Miller (Happy Feet, The Witches of Eastwick) and stars Tom Hardy in the title role of Max Rockatansky, alongside Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Nathan Jones, Zoe Kravitz, Riley Keough, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, supermodel Abbey Lee Kershaw, Courtney Eaton, Josh Helman, Jennifer Hagan and singer/songwriter iOTA. The fourth installment in the series follows Mad Max as he is caught up with a group of people fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by the Imperator, which leads to Road War. Miller has also co-written the screenplay with Brendan McCarthy and Nico Lathouris. 
Junkie XL is currently scoring the upcoming thriller Paranoia. The film is directed by Robert Luketic and stars Liam Hemsworth, Gary Oldman, Harrison Ford, Amber Heard, Josh Holloway, Embeth Davitz, Richard Dreyfuss, Julian McMahon and Lucas Till. The movie follows a lower-middle-class kid trying to do better for his dad by getting involved in the world of corporate espionage between two rival companies. Jason Dean Hall (Spread) and Barry Levy (Vantage Point) co-wrote the screenplay. Alexandra Milchan (Street Kings, Righteous Kill), Scott Lambert of Film and Deepak Nayar (Bend It Like Beckham) are producing the project. 
Junkie 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 Steel, Watchmen) and Thomas Tull (42, Pacific Rim). Orchestral recording sessions for the film are set to start this coming Sunday. 
