There are reports online today stating that legendary composer John Williams would like to return to the Harry Potter films, and hopes to provide the score for the film version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. These reports stem from a recent appearance at The Berkshire Museum, where Mr. Williams gave a special lecture. Reports via FilmScore monthly and JWFan.com say Mr. Williams was asked about returning to the series for which he provided the first three scores (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), and John Williams is quoted as saying “with confidence that he thinks he will be back for the last and then added that he hopes he is.”
While not yet officially confirmed, Nicholas Hooper is widely rumored to be returning to score Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which is due to begin filming next month and is due in theaters November of 2008. Previously Harry Potter producer David Heyman announced a 2010 release for the film of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, however no director for this film has yet been announced, let alone a composer. Please note while this may be exciting news for the many John Williams fans, please keep this as a rumor until official confirmation is provided.
Thanks very much to JWFan.com and FilmScore Monthly!
Haha I remember when I finished Deathly Hallows I thought “John Williams! Come Back!” Although I respect the jobs Doyle and Hooper did (Hooper did such an amazing job I even preferred it over the first two), Prisoner of Azkaban had the best score in the HP series, and we need a soundtrack that powerful for DH (In the Forbidden Forest scene, I had “window to the past” playing in my head). I really hope he comes back, and I will be slightly disappointed if he doesn’t (though not too disappointed. I can’t forget that when Dung said “looks like a toad” the theme “Professor Umbridge” started playing in my head), but hopefully he will make a return and it will be a grand finale.
Amy S.: I respect your opinion on Columbus, and the last thing I want to do is start another discussion of him, especially at this stage of the game, but I have to say that he really can do justice to a lot more serious material than films with small children. Have you seen Rent? That’s pretty rough stuff indeed, and he was praised consistently for it, even among very tough critics like Scott at the New York Times, who can be outright devastating if he doesn’t like something. He praised it in no uncertain terms. So please don’t sell Chris Columbus short—he’s an extremely successful director in a notoriously tough business.
I’ve always wanted Columbus to return simply because I wanted the series to have that bookend, coming full circle-ness to it, but after reading ‘Deathly Hallows’ I kinda want – but most likely won’t get – this: Alfonso Cuaron to direct, Steve Kloves AND Michael Goldenberg to script it, and John Williams to score it utilizing all the scores from the previous six films, including stuff from Doyle and Hooper.
I mean, how awesome would it be to here a different arrangement of “Dumbledore’s Army” the moment Harry, Ron, and Hermione step into the Room of Requirement near the end. Or, hearing the end pieces to the first two films at the end of this one, the epilogue.
Wow. That’s be awesome. I guess we gotta wait and see.
John Williams soundtracks are the best! I won’t lay odds on the director, but I know I would like to see John Williams finish out the series by doing the final soundtrack. I have all of the soundtracks, but COS is always the one I come back to.
The music for the first three movies was simple magical, don’t get me wrong, but i just feel in love with the music in OotP. I hope Hooper returns for HBP and DH, but I wouldn’t be too disappointed if Williams gets DH. :D
I’d LOVE it if Mr. Williams came back, though Nicholas Hooper did a pretty good job with OotP. John Williams makes the best themes. Very memorable, hence “Hedwig’s Theme.”
John Williams should have scored the Order of the Phoenix because Nicholas Hooper sucked. His score was completely boring and had no magic in it. I think the original screenwriter should come back because he never left out quidditch or other important events to the plot. I also think that Alfonso Cuaron should direct the last movie because The Prizoner of Azkaban was by far the best movie. You guys are just hating because he’s Mexican.
Columbus and Williams back for seven? I would pay in order to avoid seeing this movie. Luckily there is little chance of that happening. Why would they regress this late in the series?
It turned out that Hagrid knew quite as much about unicorns as he did about monsters, though it was clear that he found their lack of poisonous fangs disappointing.
Haha I remember when I finished Deathly Hallows I thought “John Williams! Come Back!” Although I respect the jobs Doyle and Hooper did (Hooper did such an amazing job I even preferred it over the first two), Prisoner of Azkaban had the best score in the HP series, and we need a soundtrack that powerful for DH (In the Forbidden Forest scene, I had “window to the past” playing in my head). I really hope he comes back, and I will be slightly disappointed if he doesn’t (though not too disappointed. I can’t forget that when Dung said “looks like a toad” the theme “Professor Umbridge” started playing in my head), but hopefully he will make a return and it will be a grand finale.