Zimmer on the Dark Knight Score

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Zimmer on the Dark Knight Score

March 31, 2008

Composer Hans Zimmer talked to Bloomberg about working on The Dark Knight score with fellow composer James Newton Howard. Here are several clips from the interview:

Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer was struggling to find the right music to represent the Joker in "The Dark Knight," the new Batman movie scheduled for release this summer.

Zimmer, who wrote the scores for "The Lion King," "Gladiator" and more than 100 other films, had already composed a two-note signature for the fiendish character, played by the late Heath Ledger. But he wanted to expand that sound to symbolize the Joker's penchant for anarchy.

"I've been sitting here all night trying to find out what else to do with those two notes," Zimmer said during an interview last month at his Santa Monica, California, studio.

Zimmer, who collaborated on the score with James Newton Howard, said Ledger's death from an accidental drug overdose in January wouldn't change his musical approach to the Joker. The composer said the best tribute would be an accurate reflection of Ledger's portrayal.

"The worst thing I can do is stray from that course and not be rigorous about his performance," the tall, balding composer said in a German accent that reflects his native country.

You can read more of the interview here.

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Posted by: Sick and Tired of this on March 31, 2008 at 10:41:34

Sounds good

(so to speak)

Posted by: Dazza on March 31, 2008 at 10:42:19

Their soundtrack for Begins was AWESOME, i cant wait for this one !!
Dazza.

Posted by: Mr. J on March 31, 2008 at 10:45:40

Zimmer did an amazing job with Begins soundtrack.
Can't wait to see or hear how his music matches up with that of this version of the Joker.

Posted by: Taiwarriorz21 on March 31, 2008 at 10:48:10

good news.

Posted by: Skywalker121289 on March 31, 2008 at 10:58:00

So far Zimmer's work has been out of this world. Batman Begins still is a regular in my CD player. I'm also a huge fan of his other work, pirates, gladiator, ect. This is going to top all else...

Posted by: Darthdaw37 on March 31, 2008 at 11:06:04

Awesome I love Zimmer his Scores are fantastic. I'm glad he's back for The Dark Knight

Posted by: speedracer216 on March 31, 2008 at 11:16:28

man! we are getting bat-loads of bat-news this week! fricking fantastic!

Posted by: hypestyle on March 31, 2008 at 11:44:59

I wish Heath were still here..

Posted by: byte19 on March 31, 2008 at 11:46:01

Hans is a musical GOD!!! his work inspires me in my crusade to score films!!

Posted by: Oshigno on March 31, 2008 at 12:02:25

The score for Begins was bland and forgettable.

There, I said it. I admited what no other batfan would.

Posted by: DarknightNomis on March 31, 2008 at 12:05:28

Danny Elman Batman's score would not suit the these type of Batman movies. talk about your oil and water.

Zimmer's score was perfect for begins and quite intimidating. I can't wait to hear what he got in store for the Joker.

Posted by: Harish on March 31, 2008 at 12:13:31

Zimmer is a great score-writer, but in my honest oopinion - I didn't think much of the Batman Begins score. It did feel good hearing his piece in The Dark Knight's teaser trailer though.. I wonder how he's going to grow the music for this...

Posted by: FuadRamses on March 31, 2008 at 12:13:35

What the hell does "tall, balding composer" have to do with this story? Do we need a physical representation of everybody that gets a mention? Good think he isn't cross-eyed with a wart on his head and a fat ass, or I'm sure we would have heard about that, too.

Posted by: GLKEL on March 31, 2008 at 12:21:15

Zimmer's score will always be second best to DANNY ELFMAN'S BATMAN THEME!!! No one will ever top that. It's to Batman what Williams' theme is to Superman. Danny Elfman wrote the definite theme for Batman. All Hans' crap sounds the same, but I'm kinda glad he's back for TDK....I hope TDK has a main title sequence and a MUCH better score than Begins.

Posted by: batdan on March 31, 2008 at 12:27:27

i still always think Elfman's score stands out the most, his main titles, is what i think of when i think "Batman". If anything, Hans should atleast use the Main Title Theme and adapt it to what he wrote, kind of like what they did for the Superman Returns score. I just feel that a Batman movie wouldnt be complete without the REAL Batman theme.

Posted by: Harish on March 31, 2008 at 12:39:30

"Do we need a physical representation of everybody that gets a mention? Good think he isn't cross-eyed with a wart on his head and a fat ass..."

Maybe he is? I don't see a photo.

oh, and you'll notice that in most article's that are personal interviews, the interviewer often describes the surroundings and the person being interviewed to help you imagine what the interview is seeing. It's being descriptive simply for our sakes. You don't have to use your imagination if you don't have one.

Posted by: The ButnakedAvenger on March 31, 2008 at 13:04:04

For everybody who says the Batman Begins score was bland or not quite epic enough, that was done on purpose.

Zimmer has said on several occasions that since it was an origin story, he didn't feel that the character of Batman had earned his own epic sound just yet. The man somehow got it in his head to score the music along with the character development.

Personally, I think it's a pretty cool approach, and Batman will probably earn that huge dramatic score that becomes recognizable as the batman "theme" in the second movie.

This was all said by an average height, thick haired man with no discernible accent. But he does have dreamy eyes...

Posted by: AlmightyBong on March 31, 2008 at 13:09:51

Elfman's scores suited the first Batman films. It doesn't suit the new one Nolan and company are making. This movie is going to be gloomy. We don't need no cartoonish sound going on with that gloom.

Posted by: Peter on March 31, 2008 at 13:11:58

I'm very excited to hear Zimmers score for TDK as well as The Joker .

Posted by: Sean on March 31, 2008 at 13:22:48

The two note signature sounds cool. I bet it's a lurching "down-up" sound or something. Sorry, no musical background here so I couldn't say what notes I'm thinking of, but Beethoven's 5th has a recognizable signature of two notes also, except one is repated 3 times in a row. Y'know, "dun dun dun DUN!"

Posted by: Apexx on March 31, 2008 at 13:48:40

The Batman Begins score kick ass. Could you image an Elfman score (or the atrocious scores from Batman Forever and Batman and Robin) with these new Batman films? Ugh! Can't wait to hear the Joker's theme and how they expand Batman's theme.

Posted by: Rock Roche on March 31, 2008 at 14:40:07

Zimmer's scores send chills down my spine, in a good way.

Posted by: A Sentient Being on March 31, 2008 at 14:59:11

Elfman score is heroic. These Batfilms are not about Batman being a hero, but something in between. We don't exactly know if he is a true hero, or just an anti-hero, because of his modus operanda. Similar goes for Joker, too: we do not know if he is really insane or all that insanity is just "part of the plaaaan..."
However, Elfman's score suits PERFECTLY any time Batman is depicted as a hero, but in Nolan/Bale movies, Zimmer hit the jackpot with a score which is in moment heroic (remember Myotis, or End Credits, which I call Ametrida?)but intimidating, as well, as if the music itself cannot decide which side to take, like Bruce Wayne. Is Bruce (in Nolan movies) a true hero, or is he in fact much closer to all those insane Arkham inmates he catches? I guess we won't get a clear answer to that even in "The Dark Knight", however, I expect a hint, something like Bruce comparing himself with The Joker and asking himself the very same question.

Posted by: A Sentient Being on March 31, 2008 at 15:04:48

godfatherpt3, I can notice you are a Marvel fan. But, hey, you must admit, YOU will be among the first to watch TDK! 'Nuff said.

Posted by: Michael24 on March 31, 2008 at 15:11:06

Jeez, another two-note theme? I used to love Hans Zimmer, but his scores nowadays are so stale. These Batman movies need much grander scores. The "theme" in BATMAN BEGINS was a terrible excuse for a theme. Strange that with two talented guys like Zimmer and James Newton Howard, these scores do nothing but just drone on annoyingly with no signs of life.

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