Working with James Newton Howard, the prolific composer successfully redefined another DC Comics hero's sound on Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, eventually composing solo for last summer's trilogy finale The Dark Knight Rises. Because of his work with Christopher Nolan on those films, as well as Inception, Zimmer was a clear choice for Man of Steel, which Nolan's producing with Zack Snyder directing.
300, Watchmen, and Sucker Punch director Snyder is taking a very different approach from the most recent cinematic Superman adventure, Superman Returns. Bryan Singer's reverential 2006 quasi-sequel opted to reuse the aural iconography of John Williams's score to Richard Donner's 1978 Superman, a rousing theme that is still inextricably linked to the Man of Tomorrow.
In an interview with CNN, Zimmer acknowledges that Williams leaves large shoes to fill, saying, "Look, that was daunting. Seriously. He's the greatest film composer out there, without a doubt, and it happens to be one of his iconic pieces of music, so I spent three months just procrastinating and not even getting a start on the thing, because I was so intimidated: 'Oh my God, I'm following in John Williams' footsteps.'"
Rather than trying to recreate the theme that has defined the character sonically for thirty-five years. Instead, he says he's going about it in a "very different way."
Zimmer has plenty to say about the relevant themes invoked by Man of Steel, explaining, "For Superman, it was a really simple question for me. What does it take to become a good man? To be good? And what does that mean in our more and more complex society? Do any of these values still resonate with us?"
"I kept thinking of the story as, What if you are extraordinary, and your entire ambition is to join humanity? To become human? What does it mean to become human? What does it mean to be an outsider who really wants to join the human race?"
"Everything's tinged with irony and sarcasm and bitterness and darkness these days," he said, clarifying that in retelling Superman's origin story, the filmmakers are resisting the urge to go grim and/gritty with the character.
"What was important for Superman was the simple fact that none of us pay much attention to the Midwest. I know America mainly by the big cities, but if you go into the Midwest, there is a people there and there is a country there," says Zimmer. "And I thought it was important that the decent folk, simple folk be the heart of the story, and a character who is guileless, who isn't complicated in the sort of flawed way our Dark Knight is, and isn't political in any way. He's just striving to become a better part of humanity."
Check out the full interview over at CNN.
Warner Bros. has managed to keep a tight lid on Man of Steel, parsing out information and material at a deliberate pace. This has inspired quite a bit of interest in the reboot, particularly as the most recent trailer successfully baited the hook and the general word is very strong. The next two months should see the studio blowing the doors off this superhero movie on which it has so much riding.
Stay tuned.
