Welcome to the first episode of The Fourth Wall – an interview podcast where I attempt to break down the fourth wall of the film industry, getting a behind the scenes look through my conversations with filmmakers, actors/actresses, and other industry professionals. To say this show is starting out with a bang would be an understatement as my first guest is none other than film composer Hans Zimmer who’s work ranges from “The Thin Red Line,” “Gladiator,” “The Dark Knight Trilogy,” “Inception,” “Interstellar,” and hundreds more. He is one of the most prolific film composers working today and continues to be an innovator as he pushes the medium forward.
After over 20 years, some direct to DVD sequels, and a Broadway smash hit, Zimmer, returns with the iconic voice of Lebo M. to score Jon Favreau‘s “live-action” “The Lion King” remake. While the film itself follows the original 1994 animated feature to a “T”, Zimmer looked to his live performances for ways to shape the sound of this particular version of “The Lion King.”
“There was sort of a sense of ownership on the one hand, and on the other hand, God I’m always like this, I was slightly cynical about the whole thing. I mean what are you going to do guys, I think we did a pretty good job the first time around – it moved people” said “The Lion King” composer Hans Zimmer. “Jon (Favreau) didn’t do anything but say, ‘Come down and have a look.’ He sat me down and had the opening sequence ready. He didn’t say a word, he just played the opening sequence and it moved me in a way that I didn’t expect to be moved and I just thought, only an idiot would say no.”
During the course of our conversation the Oscar and Grammy Award Winning maestro and I not only discussed his return to “The Lion King” and how instrumental his live show was in approaching the project, but we talk about his score for “Dark Phoenix” (during which Zimmer makes a cheeky remark about the film’s success you won’t want to miss), working on “Wonder Woman 1984,”collaborations with Christopher Nolan, and some fascinating insight into his process for scoring next year’s Denis Villeneuve “Dune” remake.
“The Lion King” hits theaters Friday, July 19th and Zimmer’s score is available for download now.
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