MovieChat Forums > John Williams Discussion > No new film scores on the horizon, it se...

No new film scores on the horizon, it seems

posted 4 years ago by christomacin (4655)
19 replies | jump to latest

Spielberg's latest film is an adaption of a Leonard Bernstein musical, so likely no Williams involvement there. Spielberg's next scheduled film after that is supposed to be The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara, which is listed as in "pre-production", which health permitting Williams would likely score. However, with COVID-19 who knows when this film will actually be completed. The next Indiana Jones movie is supposed to be start filming soon - but again with COVID who knows? In any case, now that Spielberg has dropped out Williams might not do it anyway. There will be another Disney Star Wars film in the pipeline, but I doubt Williams will do one not involving the "legacy characters". And, of course, the elephant in the room - his age. By the time any of these projects would be ready he'd likely be near 90.

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[–] rateater (10012) 2 years ago

he's retiring now

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[–] mechajutaro (2788) 2 years ago

Are we even sure he's still alive?

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[–] christomacin (4655) 2 years ago

He hasn't retired yet, and he most certainly is still alive. He wrote the "Obi-Wan Kenobi" theme for the Disney series and has been doing a lot of concertizing of his concert works in Europe. Currently, Williams is working on the next Indiana Jones film and is slated to score Spielberg's autobiographical film coming out in the fall. So, that's a least two more film scores from him, as long as he lasts at least until the end of the year. For his age he (90) he seem fairly fit and active.

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[–] mechajutaro (2788) 2 years ago

It's entirely possible that he kicked the bucket eons ago, and that these new scores are all being composed by AI of some sort. When Pete Cushing and Harold Ramis are bring resurrected via CGI, it's foolhardy for us to discount such a possibility out of hand

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[–] christomacin (4655) 2 years ago

He's been about and about in public in recent weeks and months and years, so that's not likely.

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[–] mechajutaro (2788) 2 years ago

He's been about and about in public in recent weeks and months and years, so that's not likely.

We've only seen video footage of JW moseying around town. This could all be easily manufactured

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[–] christomacin (4655) 2 years ago

He's conducted concerts in numerous cities all around he world in recent months. What would the point be of faking all of this? He ain't gonna live for ever, but let's not bury the guy if he can still fog up a mirror.

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[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

Don't you believe in retirement, Christo? Or should people work until they literally drop dead at their desks? Fuck that shit!

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[–] christomacin (4655) 2 years ago

What the hell are you talking about? Whether he retires or not is his decision. It has nothing to do with me at all. Anyway, Williams said he is retiring from film scoring (the work load is a bit too much for him at his age), but he expressly said he is NOT retiring from composing... not yet anyway. If people would spend more time actually following what Williams has been up to in the last couple of years (as opposed to putting words into my mouth or inventing silly "fake Williams" conspiracy theories) they would know he has in fact been quite busy, just not with film scoring, but rather promoting his more "concert related" works with the Vienna Philharmonic and other orchestras. Williams will continue to compose or much or as little or not at all as he choses and health permits.

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[–] MoviesSuck (964) 2 years ago

He may have never existed at all. It’s highly possible that what we’ve come to know as “John Williams” is just a white-tailed marmoset controlling a musically-inclined human animatronic.

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[–] TheGreatBambino (207) 2 years ago

That's unfortunate.

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[–] christomacin (4655) 2 years ago

Supposedly he is doing Spielberg's next movie coming out later in the year and he is already scoring the next Indiana Jones film as we speak.

(EDIT): John Williams just announced he is retiring (from film scoring, not from composition) after the Spielberg film in 2022 and the Indy film in 2023.

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[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

He's old. Time to let the next generation get a chance.

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[–] christomacin (4655) 2 years ago

I agree... only I'm not really seeing that this guy has any real successor in the wings.

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[–] TheGreatBambino (207) 2 years ago

Good point.

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[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

The man's 90! Maybe he wants to slow down a bit.

He still conducts the Boston Pops when he feels like it, he's their "conductor emeritus" or something.

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[–] christomacin (4655) 2 years ago

He shouldn't waste his time with film scoring at his age, which requires a lot of long hours and deadlines. None of the Star Wars films he did with Disney were worthy of his talent anyway, and I doubt the next Indy movie will be either. He only said he was retiring from film scoring, not composing all together. If he stays fairly healthy and is in the mood he can compose whatever he likes at whatever pace he likes, and it almost certainly will be performed, which is pretty rare these days to be guaranteed a premier of a classical piece. Or he could compose absolutely nothing and that would be fine too.

P.S. I think people need to consider the context in which this post was originally written. This was before he turned 90, before Indy 5 finally got under way after the pandemic delays, and before Spielberg went into production with his biographical film with Williams scoring. I was reflecting that he was getting on in years and might not score anymore movies. Happily, I was proven wrong. With luck he will complete both projects. Anything after this is gravy and is entirely Williams choice. He doesn't owe anybody anything at this point..

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[–] christomacin (4655) 2 years ago

Now Williams says he's NOT retiring... so basically just ignore this entire post. This guy is the Energizer Bunny!

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[–] overseas7 (4236) 2 years ago

👍

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