Danny Elfman out as ‘Hunger Games’ composer, James Newton Howard to replace him

By Andrew Sims (@Sims) at 8:13 pm, December 5, 2011

Big news just broke concerning The Hunger Games‘ composer. Previously-confirmed Danny Elfman has been replaced!

Variety reports:

Danny Elfman, who had been set to score THE HUNGER GAMES, is leaving due to scheduling conflicts and is being replaced by James Newton Howard. Lionsgate had announced in July that the score would be a collabortation between Elfman (THE NIGHTMARE BEVORE CRISTMAS, at left) and T Bone Burnett, who’s staying onboard. GAMES would seem to still be in good hands; credits to Howard (at right) include work on THE DARK KNIGHT, DEFIANCE, BLOOD DIAMOND and MICHAEL CLAYTON.

Surprising news – is this good or bad? You can see Newton’s credits right here. He’s got a serious line-up of credentials: The Dark Knight, Snow White and the Huntsman, Batman Begins, and many many more.

We had learned Elfman would score the film in June.

View the latest articles in: The Hunger Games

katie_lavelle2

The movies James Newton Howard has composed music for have a very dark, ominous feel to them. I see no problem with the change; I think he’ll be great & his style will fit HG perfectly.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1683360003 Paige Barton

:( not sure if I like this… Danny Elfman would have been great
Me!

Personally, I think this is brilliant. James Newton Howard has the ability to write amazingly moving emotional scores, such as Treasure Planet, Dinosaur, Peter Pan and The Water Horse. In my opinion, especially for a story such as The Hunger Games, Howard is way better than Elfman.
7Starrchasers

i don’t know how i feel about this..personally i love james newton howard…but I feel bad for Danny Elfman!
akacj18

he did the first two batmans, the sixth sense, the happening, etc. while he doesnt necessarily have the blockbusters that Danny Elfman has he seems to be into moody stuff, which i think is probably appropriate for The Hunger Games. last minute changes do make me nervous though! eek!
http://twitter.com/emigirl13 Emily B

Hmm… this is a little late in the game to be changing. Still, it will hopefully go well. He does look like he has a nice list under his belt.
Eoin

Not sure. They are cutting it close since the movie comes out in a few m9onths but I guess since the other guys is staying on it will get by a lot faster. Poor Elfman.
FilmFan4Life

Damn! Why couldn’t Alexandre Desplat have replaced him! James Newton Howard is still a great choice though.
- Jason
  
  I think he’s actually more of a dramatic director. The final Harry Potter films, The King’s Speech, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Not that he wouldn’t be great in anything he does, but JNH has done numerous action films (like The Hunger Games) including films like Blood Diamond and The Dark Knight- I think that he’s a pretty great choice.
- PotionsMaster007
  
  yes omg i so agree. i loved the soundtrack to deathly hallows
- http://twitter.com/JonBademian Jonathan Bademian
  
  Desplat is too subtle. His compositions are good but they are very underplayed and quiet. His style was only barely good enough for Deathly Hallows but for Hunger Games they need BIG music which I trust JNH to deliver
musicnerd

Howard is a great composer and very good at what he does; however, I think he seriously lacks the ability to create a memorable score. A score that is listenable without seeing the movie, etc. The only film score that he’s done that I listen to is probably the Dark Knight.
- PotionWillow207
  
  Why does the score have to be “listenable” without the movie? If it is, great, but that shouldn’t be a requirement. That’s why it’s written: to go WITH the movie.
Jen

Ah well, both are good. His Dark Knight score was very impressive.
RSCAR

The Dark Knight is one of the best movie scores,I am surprised Lionsgate got another high profile composer so quickly.I wish it would have been Hans Zimmer but I am just as happy with Howard.

This has to mean that that awesome trailer music was not by Danny Elfman because I don’t think he started yet.
Anonymous

Eeeeh….Pass. Looking over his resume, those scores aren’t memorable, except for (1)Green Lantern, which many people hated, and (2)Batman/Dark Knight, and I don’t care what anybody says, that was more Zimmer that him.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Stevey-Willey/768108981 Stevey Willey

I think this is a great choice!
Anonymous

James newton howar is good, but none of his melodies stick, and it’s such a huge series, there needs to be a melody that we all know as the hunger games! That’s a big problem with twilight. The first composer sucked and he sill sucks. Breaking dawn was terrible written. I hope the rue whistle is used throughout the score. That can be something people relate hunger games to
- http://www.rebellionradiopodcast.com Hurley
  
  None of his melodies stick? Try listening to ‘The Dark Knight’ score and then come back.
  - Anonymous
    
    I own the dark knight score. all He came up with wasthe Harvey dent suite. Hans Zimmer is the master of that score. Why don’t you listen to something Else like His new score for water for elephants, a score that could have thrived if it had been someone original who takes chances likes Hans Zimmer. He tends to be just background music. So yeah go back and look at the few songs actually credited to him on TDK soundtrack and then revisit this post, I would love to see what you have to say then.
    - http://www.rebellionradiopodcast.com Hurley
      
      First off, while James did only compose the Harvey suite, he still contributed to the entirety of the fantastic score. And I do agree, Hans Zimmer is a better composer than Howard. But that’s not what I’m here to argue about.
      
      Yes, Howard’s scores are more subtle, but that’s not a bad thing. Some of his best scores (The Village, Michael Clayton, The Sixth Sense, King Kong, I Am Legend, etc.) add so much to the ambiance and feel of the film, and use melodies that are extremely effective.
      
      Again, he contributed to all of TDK, and I’m confident that he will come up with a fantastic and recognizable theme for The Hunger Games.
      - Anonymous
        
        I agree that hewill setthe tone Of the film well, but as far as making a soundtrack that I’ll buy and listen to over again, he doesn’t have that ability! He’s good at action stuff too which will help! I just wish they got Alexandre Desplat! He’s my favorite right now!
Brelling

I’m pretty excited. The only thing I wasn’t looking forward to was having Danny Elfman do the score. While I like Elfman’s work, it often takes me out of the story, as it’s so clear who’s score it is. Howard is a bit more versatile, and I do believe, unlike some others, that he can make memorable works, those that are melodious, not just sound-effect driven.
Emma

I looked at James Newton Howard’s credits and the movie I was most excited that he had been composer for was Space Jam.
http://twitter.com/SlySound Brett H

Disappointing.
Maria

This man scored The Village. Say what you want about the film itself; the music is flawless. I am fully in favor of the change (even if Elfman would’ve been awesome).
http://www.facebook.com/DianaACoronado Diana Coronado

I don’t know about this, Elfman’s work is different and witty. I don’t think Newton is going to cut it.
- PotionWillow207
  
  That may be true, but “witty” isn’t an adjective I would use to describe the Hunger Games. I think Howard will do just fine, and none of the scores he’s done (so far as I can tell) have been bad.
http://www.eigakanthemovietheater.blogspot.com Jenny Leigh

What? No!!! I was excited, but it’s not like Newton Howard is bad, I own many of his scores. He’s just very Hans Zimmer-y (and well, he does work with him from time to time).

But he did do Peter Pan, so I suppose he’s a good replacement. Danny Elfman is just one of my favorite musicians, so I’m having a hard time accepting this.
Sarah Sutherland

oh dear… this post-production stuff. Kind of makes me a little worried. I think he will do great for the action films, but unlike Hans Zimmer and Desplat and John Williams, I don’t think he will create a good and noticeable Hunger Games Theme.
Danny Elfman has done many whimsical but recognizable and memorable movie themes.. And I really like the music in the trailers… oh well :/ slightly bummed
Clive

I love Danny Elfman, but he doesn’t seem to fit with this film so I’m not surprised they replaced him. James Newton Howard looks like he might be a good fit. Looking at his credits I seem to have never noticed he’s composed the music, though I love King Kong’s score, and given he managed to compose the whole thing in three weeks is mighty impressive.
Luisa

I’m glad to hear, that he’s replaced by Mr. Howard! I don’t get along with Danny Elfman very well… I don’t like his style of composition. Many of the films which soundtracks were written by Elfman have a fantastic and sometimes crazy touch. His music seems to be as crazy as the movies.
I’m the same opinion as Jason, Howard is more “action-film-approved” and for that I think there couldn’t be a better choice!
Silverfirelizard16

OOOOH, I love James Newton Howard!!!!!
Alonninos

If I’m not wrong, James Newton Howard composed for The Last Airbender, did he not? As much as that movie S-U-C-K-E-D, the music was beautiful. I’m sure he’ll be great.
Alexxx

This makes me sad, I love Danny Elfman.
Dragonheart anyone?? Best. Music. Ever.
- Alexxx
  
  I’m Dyslexic. That’s a different composer. haaaaa. Still though, that particular score is epic, RANDY EDLEMAN would have done a great job with this one. :)
  - http://www.facebook.com/Pypersunshine Pyper Atkin
    
    Hahaha Randy, Danny, Edleman, Elfman, same thing! That just made my day :)
Darkbunni

NOOOOOOOOO! Oh, I’m massively disappointed! Nothing against James Newton Howard, I’m sure he’ll do a great job, but Elfman is one of my favourite composers. I was really looking forward to seeing his take on the Hunger Games – his brand of creepy, oddly charming yet sinister music would have fitted perfectly.
Kevin

I really hope Elfman started on things, and at least left Howard with something to expand on. Not that I don’t like Howard, but I think a collab with both Elfman and Howard would be fantastic. I just think Elfman’s work is a little redundant, but when put into moderation its exceptional at the least. anybody remember kick ass’ score? Elfman, Murphy, Jackman, Vries, and Ilan Eshkeri?? It was an amazing score. Can’t wait to see the score on this one. I’m really liking the talent that Lionsgate is bringing to the plate.
- TheOneAndOnlyCliche
  
  I was thinking that too. If he created the basis for it…I don’t know. I think Elfman’s music is a lot more iconic and representetive. Newton Howard’s is effective, but you don’t come away from listening to his music humming the music, just liking it.
TheOneAndOnlyCliche

I still want Elfman, just because I thout he could bring the right amount of ‘oddity’ to the movie, especially for the Capitol scenes, but if he’s being replaced by someone so well respected and has a similar talent with big-scale epics, then I think it will be okay.
Still, I’d prefer his personal sound. He has a distinct quirkiness he works into each tune, and somehow manages to make serious music simultaneously whimsical, which is very necessary for this book – it is dark and often dreary, but the strangeness of the world outside District 12 for Katniss needs to be emphasized, and I really do believe Elfman is the man for the job.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1229430522 Kiara Rubin

YES HOWARD IS AWESOME! the soundtrack for GLORY was amazing :)))
Guest

HEY HEY HEY
if Anyone is still worried about Not getting the trailer music from the hunger games trailer 2 because elfman is no longer the composer. dont fret.

elfman didn’t made the song. TTL did, and the song is called Deep shadow.
KatnissLovegood

NOOOO! i love danny elfman!
Mary

Aw, no! I have absolutely nothing against James Newton Howard (he’s a brilliant composer) so don’t get me wrong, but Danny Elfman is my favorite film composer of all time. He was completely robbed out of an Oscar for the Alice in Wonderland score and I was hoping this could be another chance for him. What a bummer. The Hunger Games looks like a great film but since I haven’t read the books (still need to do that before the movie comes out) he was the main reason I was excited to see it. I wonder what he is doing instead. “Scheduling conflicts”..?
HungerGamesFanGirl

i luv the hunger games!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i m so excited that the movie is coming out!!! i even have a mockingjay pin!
- http://erictheperson.tumblr.com Eric Coppes
  
  Thanks for the input, Sport.

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Danny Elfman out as ‘Hunger Games’ composer, James Newton Howard to replace him

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