Solo John Powell to Score Solo with Theme From John Williams

I hope Ron Howard brings his regular collaborator Hans Zimmer along. I would have been highly opposed to a Zimmer SW score a couple years ago but after the endless barrage of bland pseudo-Williams scores from Giacchino, I think something different could be nice. Either him or Williams himself, who Ron Howard has collaborated with in the past. Scratch that, I don't want Williams to waste his energy on it. John Powell would be a great too (maybe even the best).

 

I would not be unhappy about that choice.

And this time he might get more than 4 weeks!

 

While I'm sure they are going to go with someone more familiar like Giacchino or Henry Jackman or Hans Zimmer now that Ron is on board.

But there are some other options out there that could be good and have provided some good epic sounding scores and really they've been relegated to doing sort of lame family films and not getting much of a chance to create really memorable big film scores particularly in the superhero genre they seem to go to the same couple of people. Not that I don't like people like Giacchino or Jackman or Williams or Zimmer or Silvestri but you do sort of pick up on their cues after awhile.

Plus if they were going to go with someone who hasn't been normally associated with the series like with Giacchino on Rogue One then he shouldn't try to make it sound too similar to Williams. I mean I know he wanted to try and keep the feel of Star Wars but it felt like a more odd imitation at times rather than making it his own.

People don't really take film scores all that seriously at least in how they view it anymore and usually because it's the last thing done in production but music is still an important element of film and sometimes it can define a film. Star Wars itself is known for it's music. If they didn't have Williams create those memorable cues you wonder how well would we remember certain things about it today?

So while I'm not expecting an out of left field choice I think one day they should give a shot too the likes of:

David Arnold: Mostly remembered for Independence Day and also scoring the Bond films from the Brosnan era until Quantom of Solace because Sam Mendes brought Thomas Newman his preferred composer on for Skyfall and Spectre and admitedly Newman wouldn't be bad either. But Arnold has done some good work and it's kind of surprising he hasn't been given bigger opportunities and he should.

Independence Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy3bGMdt8bg

James Bond Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KC13tNxcOU

John Powell: Surprisingly has been mentioned here a few times already but yeah he would do pretty well and again a guy not many people turn too and they should. X-Men 3 is not a good film but that score was pretty good and really you wish it was in a better film because of that.

X-Men The Last Stand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icgRhe-chP4

David Newman: Brother of Thomas he's had experience in composing sci-fi before with Galaxy Quest which while a comedy he makes it sound appropriately cheesy but also epic at the same time and his score for the Phantom is also a good one. But if you wanted a slightly more serious but still fun example of a sci-fi score other than Galaxy Quest he also did Serenity which like what they supposedly want Han Solo to be is a sci-fi western.

Galaxy Quest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J5oF19DTbw

The Phantom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yt8B8vFcD4

Serenity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLmkfeb11kQ

Bruce Broughton: If the movie is meant to be a western in space the obvious to go to would be Ennio Morricone and if they got him that would be kind of cool and awesome the guy is looking to be on his way out honestly now that he his well deserved Oscar thanks to The Hateful Eight I think he should just bow out gracefully. Only way I'd see him return is if Eastwood did one final western but that won't happen because he's pretty set on directing plus Unforgiven was a perfect way to end his time with that genre why ruin it? So alternatively why not Broughton? The guy did Tombstone which again is a great score and again I'm surprised he's been given less opportunities. I understand why some would be hesitant given the last time he dabbled into sci-fi was Lost In Space but that wasn't his fault as much as it was the films'.

Tombstone Main Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-msHHTioMhc

James Newton Howard: Admitedly this is a more recognisable name then the other ones I've thrown out. He worked with Kasdan before on Grand Canyon so he would vouch for him. Really it's all a matter of what they want the film to be. A score should speak volume about a film and really fit and go along with it's tone and tell you about the film and you don't get that much these days. If the film wants to be fantasy and sort of adventure he's done that before recently with Fantastic Beasts, that 2003 Peter Pan film and also Treasure Planet which was a sci-fi film an animated one granted but still a sci-fi fantasy which is what Star Wars is.

Peter Pan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbg6g8xlbjo

Fantastic Beasts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBOMpfxsUpk

Treasure Planet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpuMidhxBl4

So yeah that's just a few people they could go with. Of course there are some people you wish were still around to do a score like James Horner (he worked with Howard before could have been a good choice for sure), Jerry Goldsmith, Elmer Bernstein etc.

If they had to go with someone recognisable I would go with Silvestri personally.

Also will have to squeeze this in there somewhere.

I'm Han Solo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg_FoEy8T_A

 

I would not mind at all if Giacchino did it, I'd be excited too!!! But I want Han Zimmers to have a go. He is straight up amazing!

 

Giacchino!

 

C'mon Disney... let him do it! He's awesome!

 

John Powell will compose the music for the Han movie.

http://www.starwars.com/news/john-powell-to-score-untitled-han-solo-movie

 

Awesome! He is Legit! I do like how they a lot of different composers..

 

YES!!!

 

mods title update!

 

Huh one of my choices got the job. Cool. Guy is an underrated talent. Looking forward to hearing what he'll bring to it.

 

I have no idea what to expect from this guy.

 

Hope he won't out the project, like Desplat did on Rogue One.
Good luck Powell!

 

Listen to the How to Train Your Dragon scores, X-Men: The Last Stand, and Pan. He's writes great melodies and has excellent dramatic sensibillities.

 

Most of his scores are from movies I don't ever care to see...

 

You should check out How to Train Your Dragon if you haven't already. It's lean, effective storytelling aided immensely by the score. Not too dissimilar from Star Wars in that regard.

 

You could taste them or hear them instead!

 

You were saying….

 

Not a huge fan. Overwrought scores (with too much bombast, an over-reliance on choral work for emotions, and almost no use of silence). Would have preferred a slightly more subtle approach ala Desplat. But I'm certainly open to giving him the benefit of the doubt. I really disliked most of Giacchino's scores before Rogue One, but aside from the Krennic theme, I thought it was spot on. So I look forward to being pleasantly surprised by Powell!

 

I think a key sentence in that press release is "The untitled Han Solo movie will be scored in the style of the original Star Wars movies but retain Powell’s distinctive voice." I think the score will hew more closely to a traditional Williams score than Giacchino's did, which both sampled and in places alluded to Williams' original music, but had quite a distinct flavor. I mean, "Your Father Would Be Proud" is pure Giacchino up and down. So we'll see how this turns out, but I hope Powell incorporates some Western motifs in his music.

 

Eh.. Desplat is a bit too dry and slight for a Hand Solo movie. Powell's music is more "youthful" and emotionally involving. Desplat was a good fit for Rogue One though.

 

Well his X-Men: The Last Stand score was excellent and I quite liked the Jumper soundtrack as well.