Hans Zimmer Almost Scrapped JOKER Theme

Hans Zimmer, a well known movie score composer (Gladiator, Batman Begins, Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and 3) most recently finished work on THE DARK KNIGHT.


Zimmer spoke with Parade Magazine about scrapping the theme he had written for Heath Ledger's JOKER character after he heard about the actor's untimely death.

"It was so inconceivable, you know, when we heard about this. Actually, I for a moment was thinking, 'Oh my God, I should throw out all the music I've written for the Joker and just start over again.' Which is just exactly the wrong thing to do. And I mean, I can never find a better word for it but to honor his performance, I had to stick to my guns. The music has to portray the philosophy of anarchy that the Joker displays in the face of Batman's valor. I couldn't soften the music or compromise the evil he projects because Heath really did give such a tremendous performance. If I had taken my eye off the ball, if I had been sentimental, if I had done anything like that, it would really have not served him."

Zimmer's co-composer James Newton Howard agreed,

"I agree with that. And I think ultimately his performance is so electrifying in the movie that if he has the ability to look down upon any of this, I think he would be certainly pleased that his character was honored by, certainly on our end, by writing the music that is most appropriate to that performance."

The Dark Knight opens in theaters July 18th!