James Gunn’sSupermantrailer included a beautiful tribute to John Williams' iconic theme, but I hope Gunn doesn’t ignore another composer who has an important role in Superman’sDClegacy. 1978’sSuperman: The Movieis arguably the birth of the superhero genre. Christopher Reeve’slive-action version of Supermanmade viewers believe a man could fly, and the film is still seen as a landmark of cinematic spectacle. One of the film’s most memorable aspects is its excellent score, created by Williams, adding to his legendary discography.
His theme is still synonymous with the hero almost 50 years later. It was reused in 2006’sSuperman Returnsand an essential part ofSuperman’s first trailer. However, it wasn’t used in 2013’sMan of Steel, as Zack Snyder’s films inthe DCEU timelinehad a different tone than the Richard Donner Superman films. Hans Zimmer composed the score forMan of Steel, and it may not have been as lighthearted as Williams' theme, but it’s still an incredible composition that should be included in Gunn’s film.
How James Gunn’s Superman Trailer Implemented John Williams' Score
The Superman trailer reminded audiences how powerful Williams' score is.
The firstSupermantrailer includes a fresh spin on Williams' theme. John Murphy, who previously worked with Gunn onThe Suicide SquadandGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, composed the score forSupermanand created the trailer’s music. It starts with a solo guitar riff of Williams' theme, paired with images ofSuperman bleeding in the snowand Clark Kent’s job at The Daily Planet. It’s a slow build, introducing viewers to David Corenswet’s Superman, Krypto the Superdog, and Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane.
The trailer cuts to Superman saving a little girl from flying debris, where the music also becomes an epic orchestral version of Williams' score. The music is paired with various scenes of Superman in different fights, Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor looking angry, and other heroes in action, such as Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi’s Mr. Terrific, and Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl. It is a slower version of Williams' theme, but it does an excellent job of capturing the hope and amazement Superman creates.
James Gunn’s Superman Score Needs To Have A Bit Of Hans Zimmer In It
Hans Zimmer’s Man of Steel score deserves more love.
Man of Steelhad mixed reactions upon its release, but it has developed a passionate fanbase over a decade later. However, no one argued that Zimmer’s score was excellent and one of the film’s highlights. It’s strikingly different from Williams' theme, but it fits the tone of Snyder’s vision perfectly. It features a nice balance of strings and horns, but the percussion and drums make it stand out. Tracks like “Flight” and “What Are You Going To Do When You Are Not Saving The World” capture the more somber, but hopeful tone that Snyder created.
10 Best Hans Zimmer Tracks From Superhero Movies
Which of Hans Zimmer’s iconic superhero scores best capture the feel of the films they’re from?
Gunn’sSupermanmay not have a similar tone to Snyder’s, but he should find a way to include a musical tribute to Zimmer’sMan of Steelscore. It’s a nice way to pay homage to the DCEU as the DCU begins, and it would make his film feel more grand by including Zimmer’s work.It would also honor all parts of Superman’s cinematic legacy. Before the trailer was released, Gunn shared a poster on social media featuring music that sounded like a blend of Zimmer’s and Williams', so the director may have plans for it.
Zimmer Has Been A Major Contributor For DC Since Batman Begins
The German composer has created themes for several DC heroes.
Zimmer is one of the biggest contributors to DC’s most successful films. He created the score forThe Dark Knighttrilogy, giving audiences an incredible Batman theme that has become synonymous with the character. While Michael Giacchino’sThe Batmanscore is great,Zimmer’s theme is tied to Batman, like Williams' theme is tied to Superman. Nolan’s trilogy is brilliant, but it wouldn’t be the same without Zimmer’s music.
Zimmer returned to DC forMan of Steeland started the DCEU off on a high note. He also composed the music forBatman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice. While the movie divided audiences, Zimmer still delivered, especially with his original theme for Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, which carried over to her solo film. Zimmer’s last DC project wasWonder Woman 1984, and the movie still had an excellent score, despite its mixed results. The DCEU was inconsistent, but Zimmer always did an incredible job, no matter the film, and a place in theSupermansoundtrack could further prove this.
