Updated: The NME was incorrect and misquoted Mark Ronson. Theodore Shapiro is providing the original score for director Jason Winer’s “Arthur.” Ronson will contribute several new songs to the film with vocals by Daniel Merriweather. The film will also feature songs written and performed by Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie. With that in mind, disregard certain parts of the story below.
While the “Arthur” reboot starring Russell Brand, Helen Mirren, Greta Gerwig and Jennifer Garner looks like a total disaster, at least on the music front, the filmmakers have made an inspired decision.
Speaking to the Mirror at the Shockwaves NME Awards earlier this week Brit DJ, producer and artist Mark Ronson confirmed that he is wrapping up work on the soundtrack for “Arthur” saying, “I’m doing the music for ‘Arthur.’ I’m just finishing it. It’s my first time doing a film score and it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a really long time.”
Apparently, Ronson (or his music) was just “filling in” on the score for the film but he wound up being personally recommended for the gig by Brand himself. While he’s not much of a name yet on this side of the ocean, you may have heard of the some the artists who have benefited from the young producer’s knob twiddling: Macy Gray, Christina Aguilera, Amy Winehouse, Ghostface Killah, Wale, Adele, Q-Tip, Kaiser Chiefs, Duran Duran and more. Over on U.K. shores, Ronson is also an established solo artist with three albums under his belt perhaps the most notable being “Version,” his disc of cover songs that found him taking on tunes by Coldplay, Radiohead, Britney Spears and The Smiths among others with the singles “Valerie” and “Stop Me” charting very high.
This writer isn’t is split on Ronson — he’s a great producer, less so of a solo artist — but in a film that already feels dated and musty, Ronson’s work will undoubtedly breathe some much needed life into the film. “Arthur” hits theaters on April 8th; no word yet on a soundtrack release but there is likely one on the way.