Hans Zimmer on "Man of Steel" Music - Ditch Theme

[Frontier]

So Hans Zimmer, one of the duo of composers for the TDK trilogy, did an interview with an NBC affiliate. For some reason, DarkHorizon's is reporting his comments as an affirmation that he is indeed scoring "Man of Steel" but if you read the original article, he does not say that.

That said, he answered what he would do if he where scoring "Man of Steel" and that is, basically, to ditch the theme.

Given that Nolan is also overseeing the development of a renewed revival of “Superman” helmed by Zack Snyder, Popcorn Biz had to ask Zimmer’s opinion on a burning question, whether he works on that film or not: do you re-employ John Williams’ theme for the Man of Steel, one of the most lauded scores in film history, or do you start anew with a fresh, fully original score?


“It's a hard one,” mused Zimmer, “but I followed one of the most iconic things on 'Batman' with Chris as well, and it's the same thing. You are allowed to reinvent, but you have to try to be as good or at least as iconic and it has to resonate and it has to become a part of the zeitgeist. That's the job. On 'Gladiator' I remember people always talking about 'Spartacus' and I kept telling them, 'When you saw "Spartacus" and how it affected it you, that's how I want a modern audience to be affected by what we do now.' So I think ultimately you're supposed to reinvent.”​

Thoughts?


I'm in the middle. I think re-using Williams theme after 'Superman Returns' would not be the best idea, but it's not the worst either. It's iconic, but it's been a bit tainted as well and they're making an effort to show a departure from old and what's been done, so re-hashing the theme... maybe not best.


That said, I don't feel Zimmer is the man for this job. So I hope they don't go with him for it. I love his and Newton-Howard's work on TDK, but... they do need a definative sound theme for Supes.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/blogs/po...n---and-Superman-105838533.html#ixzz13hfG2VXc​

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Zimmer, who's far from the best himself, just equated John Williams to Danny Elfman. Meh.

 

[Skywalker]

They should ditch the theme and strike their own path.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

That said, I don't feel Zimmer is the man for this job. So I hope they don't go with him for it. I love his and Newton-Howard's work on TDK, but... they do need a definative sound theme for Supes.

While I normally like Zimmer's work (the score for King Arthur is seriously good), I found his work on Batman Begins and The Dark Knight to be completely unmemorable.

 

[Jetfire]

John Williams’ theme is a must...to me it is Superman's theme. JMHO.

 

[TemporalFlux]

As much as I love the John Williams theme, I think they have to do something new if they want to give Superman a fresh start on the big screen. If this can be special and stand out, then it has to be a clean break.

That said, they have their work cut out for them given the ups and downs in the history of the Superman film franchise.

 

[Christopher]

Just because something is iconic doesn't mean it should be copied ad nauseam. If anything, that diminishes it. Williams did a great Superman theme, but he's not the only person who's ever done so, and he shouldn't be the last person who gets a chance to do so. (In fact, several of my favorite Superman themes are post-Williams.)

And if you're doing a different version of Superman, a different continuity, I think it should have different music.

As for Hans Zimmer, I found his Batman and Inception music rather boring, but he did an intriguing job with Sherlock Holmes. And I loved his theme for The Critic way back when. So I'll keep an open mind.

 

[Trent Roman]

Ditch it, with prejudice. That cornball music--and the cheap graphics that accompanied it--were the first symptoms of the cheese-laden wreck that was "Returns".

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Aragorn]

They should play a lot of current Top 40 pop songs for angst-ridden scenes.

 

[Caliburn24]

James Horner should score the new film, he does the best flying music in the business.

Just so long as he promises to create something new.

 

[Nowhere Man]

I like his POTC theme and BB/TDK theme, but I say keep the John Williams theme. It works the best and it's just too hard to top. It would be really hard watching the movie without think the theme should be in certian spots. The Batman theme from Tim Burton movies were iconic too, but not as much as Superman has become. The John Williams theme is almost inseperable.

 

[Admiral_Young]

As much as I'm fond of the William's theme and like the rest of the fandom think it iconic...I love his and Howard's scores for "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight" thrilling and sweeping. It was a bold decision to separate themselves from Elfman's iconic and recognizable theme for "Batman" and try something else. So I'm in favor of doing the same for "Superman". As long as Tyler Bates is not used I'm fine....not a big fan of his previous collaborations with Snyder.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

James Horner should score the new film, he does the best flying music in the business.

Just so long as he promises to create something new.

This.

 

[Gaith]

No, no, no!

Williams' theme is to Superman as the Bond theme is to Bond. Both are far better-known amongst the general public than Elfman's Batman theme.

Use it judiciously and sparingly? Sure. Introduce new themes? Knock yourself out. Ditch Williams' theme altogether? No.

 

[Admiral_Young]

I don't see James Horner scoring the Superman films. It will either by Tyler Bates or Hans and James Newton Howard.


The thing with the Williams thing is that it denotes a connection with the Donner 'Verse films and I think that if they use it people will assume that it has some connection with the Donner films and "Superman Returns". Maybe they can use it sparingly and as part of a motif for Clark or Superman.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

No, no, no!

Williams' theme is to Superman as the Bond theme is to Bond. Both are far better-known amongst the general public than Elfman's Batman theme.

Use it judiciously and sparingly? Sure. Introduce new themes? Knock yourself out. Ditch Williams' theme altogether? No.

I don't see James Horner scoring the Superman films. It will either by Tyler Bates or Hans and James Newton Howard.


The thing with the Williams thing is that it denotes a connection with the Donner 'Verse films and I think that if they use it people will assume that it has some connection with the Donner films and "Superman Returns". Maybe they can use it sparingly and as part of a motif for Clark or Superman.

I think the Williams theme needs to be in the next film; casual moviegoers, I'm sure, will expect to hear it.

 

[Phantassm]

Keep it but use it sparingly. The Superman theme is as integral as the star trek, star wars themes are to the films. They don't have to overly use it but it should be there at one point or another.

 

[Frontier]

Christopher made me think; the Superman Animated theme, and the one from Superman Doomsday animated film, where both decent and managed to capture an element of the spirit in new ways. Makes me a lean a bit towards new.

I want a theme in the film, so using the Williams theme sparingly is just lame, IMO. A theme is supposed to recur, not just pop up for 20 seconds twice.

If it's to be used; fully utilize it. Perhaps do something to pump it up to our times without making it lame. But don't use it half-way. Use it or lose it.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Did casual or general movie goers expect to hear the Danny Elfman theme when they saw "Batman Begins"? I don't know that they did. In fact I think movie buffs and film score fans would only be concerned about hearing the Williams theme. I think fans get hung up on stuff like this and aren't willing to give new things a chance.

 

[Skywalker]

Agreed. I don't think casual viewers will be perturbed if they don't hear Williams' original theme. As long as the movie's good, they won't care. Most of the people this movie's going to be targeting are going to be too young to understand the significance and iconic nature of Superman: The Movie anyway.