A new documentary, Music By John Williams, has been announced. It will look at the life and music of the legendary film composer. It will be first coming to theaters for a limited run and then Disney+ on December 1, 2024. Before all of this, the film will debut at AFI Fest on October 23.
Throughout the career of John Williams, he has garnered 54 Oscar nominations and five wins. He also wrote the scores for all nine of the Star Wars films in the Skywalker Saga. Williams also composed the scores for all of the Indiana Jones films, among many many more. This documentary will look at the early days of Williams’ career as a jazz pianist and beyond as it shares his countless contributions to moving image arts, music for the concert stage, his impact on popular culture, and a whole lot more!
“It’s no exaggeration to say that John Williams is the greatest film composer of all time,” Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy says. “His music has transcended cinema and become a part of our global culture, touching the hearts of billions, both young and old. John’s music has done as much to keep classical music alive as it has to shape the world of film.”
The documentary features interviews with Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Kate Capshaw, Gustavo Dudamel, J.J. Abrams, Chris Martin, Ron Howard, Chris Columbus, George Lucas, Itzhak Perlman, Lawrence Kasdan, Yo-Yo Ma, Ke Huy Quan, James Mangold, Alan Silvestri, David Newman, Thomas Newman, Seth MacFarlane, Anne-Sophie Mutter, and Branford Marsalis, whose lives have been touched by Williams’ timeless music.
Music By John Williams is directed by award-winning filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau and produced by Steven Spielberg, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, Sara Bernstein, Justin Wilkes, Meredith Kaulfers, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Laurent Bouzereau, with Markus Keith and Michael Rosenberg serving as executive producers.
Director Laurent Bouzereau shared that as a child growing up in France, John Williams had a profound impact on him. “His scores made me fall in love with music, and made me realize at a very young age, the power that a score had on cinematic storytelling,” Bouzereau adds. “This was an important story to tell, not only because it is about one of the greatest composers of all time, but because of the message it carries about the survival of orchestral music, and musicians.”
John Williams was honored with the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2016. He was the first composer to receive the honor for a career in film.
Music By John Williams arrives on Disney+ on November 4, 2024. Are you excited to see this documentary? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
