It goes without saying that Star Wars and the name John Williams go hand in hand. After all, George Lucas stated that Williams was the “secret sauce” at Celebration this year with his famous and beloved music for the franchise. Williams recently scored the latest instalment in the series, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and will hopefully score Episode IX, and it has now been announced that he is coming back to Star Wars sooner than expected to craft the theme for Solo: A Star Wars Story.
The Han Solo spin-off, which has seen Ron Howard take over directing duties after Lucasfilm fired Chris Miller and Phil Lord – with Howard reportedly reshooting much more than anticipated – has composer John Powell creating the score, but Williams will write the theme for the film and everyone’s favourite scruffy-looking, nerf-herding smuggler. Williams revealed the news in an interview with Variety.
“The present plan is that I’m writing a theme for Han Solo, and John Powell is going to write the score, which he’ll do brilliantly,” Williams said. “His assignment is something I’m very happy about. What I will do is offer this to John, and to Ron Howard, and if all parties are happy with it, then I will be happy… John will complete the score. He will write all the rest of the themes and all of the other material, which I’m going to be very anxious to hear.”
Powell came on board the film in July with Lucasfilm saying at the time “The untitled Han Solo movie will be scored in the style of the original Star Wars movies but retain Powell’s distinctive voice.” He was hired on after Howard was chosen to replace Miller and Lord as the film’s director.
SEE ALSO: Rumoured description of the Solo: A Star Wars Story trailer
Solo: A Star Wars Story features Alden Ehrenreich (Hail, Caesar!) as the famous smuggler, Donald Glover (Atlanta) as Lando Calrissian, Woody Harrelson (War for the Planet of the Apes) as Beckett (Solo’s mentor), Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca and Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag), Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones), Thandie Newton (Westworld), Paul Bettany (Avengers: Infinity War), Ian Kenny (Sing Street), and Warwick Davis (Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi) in as-yet-unrevealed roles. It is set for release on May 25th 2018.
