Will Superman be the Same Without the Original John Williams Score?

Was Batman the same without Danny Elfamn's score? Yes, and Batman is rocking with James Newton Howard's score.

You don't change out a John Williams score. He is the Beethoven of the modern age.

They should keep Brandon Routh and the original score XD

While it is the perfect tune for a Superman movie, John Williams's Superman theme does have ties to the old movies and would probably give people the impression that the new movie is somehow attached to the old ones.

The difference between the Superman movies and movies like Star Wars or Halloween is that Superman did not start off on film. The Superman franchise started in the comics. The Donner films are merely adaptations of those comics. No different than the George Reeves's television series, or the 1930's cartoon. Like Donner's films before it, this new Superman movie should rid itself of any past ties to ensure that it becomes a proper modern adaptation.

Don't get me wrong, John Williams is the greatest movie music composer that has ever lived, and the Superman theme is an amazing product of his effortless brilliance, but if the new director decides to leave the theme behind, I'll have no objections.

It would be ridiculous if they were to change the theme. I don't see why keeping it would "hurt" anything - because it may remind others of past installments? Please.

People are will remember them whether or not the music is the same.

Example: When the Spider-Man reboot comes out, how many will not be thinking of Spider-man 3. And the same goes for the next Transformers.

The music fits perfectly with Superman's world. I agree it's just as iconic of a theme as any other. Star Wars, Indiana Jones etc.

The music for Batman, Spider-man, Iron Man are cool but they all sound the same in my opinion. They don't starkly stand out from one another as I think they should.

Of course no one should say (ever) that all the Superman films were masterpieces, but the Score was and still is. To replace it with something else, even if it's close to being decent, will never come close to be as good or even great as what we have.

As far as I'm concerned, Superman's theme will always be the greatest of Superhero themes . . . ever! So why would anyone settle for seconds.

@Redson - So, changing the theme is bad cause it doesn't continue the Donner/Reeve's legacy?? Superman can use better music, the same way Christopher Nolan did with Batman Begins..

The First (2) were masterpieces, the rest where shit..

I'd be fine with a new score. I get paying homage, but I don't need it shoved down my throat throughout the whole damn movie like Superman Returns. Move on.

@RedSon - You make a valid point.

"Nolan isn't a god??" I concur, but give Hans Zimmer something to work with, and he'll work magic.

@Dcaesar- That would be far from doing what Superman Reurns did. Returns had the same Intro, The same plot, They even had the same ending credit which I gotta admit was pretty awesome to see. I don't even think Super Returns was a Bad movie. He just really screwed the pooch when brought the Superkid in. That was just Retard!

I think the superman theme needs to be changed along with the new film. It is a must. The old music is directly connected to the old films. If you have the old music attached the new film, everyone will be thinking of the Donner movies while watching the "repoot". This already happened to the Singer Superman and we all know how well that turned out.

@superhero Great point, the Bond theme is the same and has been going all the way back to 1962 with Dr. No. Even though Casino Royale was a "reboot" guess what it still had the classic theme played at the end. And they all have that looking down the barrel, shadow of 007 shooting the guy, screen goes red, yeah, thats Bond

John Williams is the best movie comnposer ever, look at what hes done, Star Wars, INdiana Jones Jaws, ET, Superman, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter (of course anything with Speilberg) all Iconic movies, hes THE guy to get please keep the theme and have "Superman theme originally composed by John Williams" in it.

Keep the theme song. Change everything else. Including the silly underwear on the outside of his pants. Keep the original colors though :-)

Well, this has been a interesting thread. Have any of you listen to the Original Superman Theme from the 50's George Reeves series? John drew from it while createing heroic music worthy of Superman. Listen to both and you can hear the simularties. So if a new composer tries to add to that legacy, I'm all for it. Can he/she top John Williams score? I doubt it as this was created in Williams best years of creativity. After this point (70's and 80's) his scores have been more formula to his style. It can be easy to hear rifts and ques that repeat from film to film. This does not invalidate him as a master composer, however. This could be a good transition for a new composer to add to the legacy.


What becomes obvious in these Superman postings is a younger group of fans want a Superman film that is thiers. A film that reflects current pop culture and technology that is not dragged down with morals or motives that they see as dated and could be avoided. What they don't want to see is why Superman chooses these merits over selfish desires. This is the very issue that makes Superman Returns fail in the eyes of fans. No matter what generation re-tells the Superman story, if it doesn't have some basic elements key to the character its just not Superman.

No, the movie would not be the same with the John Williams theme without it. When John Williams forged the music score for Superman, he has made an epic piece of music that just cannot be touched and it has become Superman's theme song, there is nothing like it. When you think of the character, you think of John Williams version of the score and it can give you goosebumps and when you hear it, the song screams of epicness.
Anyway, the new movie has got have the theme and it would not be the same without it.