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.
