‘Hunger Games’ Movie Score: Danny Elfman Replaced by James Newton Howard
Dec 05, 2011
Posted by Kimmy • 38 Comments »
Categories: Soundtrack / Score
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 CHRISTMAS, at left) and T Bone Burnett, who’s staying onboard.
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At first, I was heart broken since Danny Elfman is my favorite composer.. But then I realized he did the Peter Pan (2003) soundtrack and I’m very pleased. I loved that score! This Dinosaur score is amazing as well!
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This is going to be an epic movie.
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NOOOOOOO!
I love Danny Elfman. Alice in Wonderland soundtrack was fantastic.
But Dinosaur is pretty okay too.
Now to wait and see how many thumbs down this gets…
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bummer. I really like Danny Elfman. But I’m sure they picked James Howard with a lot of thought and I trust he will do the movie justice.
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I’m shocked and sad to see Danny go, but James is also one of my favourite composers. I adore his work on The Dark Knight, Blood Diamond, and The Village.
Luckily, THG is still in very good hands. So I’m not worried about James at all.
I’m just surprised because the movie’s a little over 3 months away, and I thought Danny would have been fully invested at scoring the movie atm.
Huh.
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I was really upset at first, seeing that Elfman is my favorite composer- but now i am ok with it. Newton is great aswell.
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To be honest, I’m very excited by this news. I’ve always considered James Newton Howard the better composer of the two, and he did a fantastic job on Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Looking forward to The Hunger Games soundtrack even more now!
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ACK!!!! Wow this is definitely disappointing … I’m not familiar with this guy’s work. I’m listening to it on the second youtube link you have there … and it’s … o.k. None of this music sounds super memorable to me though. I’ve seen some of these movies and I don’t remember the music from any of them.
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Oh my goodness, what I coincidence. I LOVE James Newton Howard and often listened to that exact track (“End Titles” from the movie Dinosaur) in relation to THG. Danny Elfman is good as well, but this news makes me happy!
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The Dark Knight score is my favorite! This makes me very happy!!
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I LOVE JAMES NEWTON HOWARD!!! I thought I couldn’t get any more excited, but I am now! I LOVE ALL of his work!!! Incredible composer!! 
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James Newton Howard did Water for Elephants. That is something of his that I recognize. The score will be great!
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They are both great composers. It will be awesome either way. Just dont change the whistle! 
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James Newton Howard alsp replaced Howard Shore at the last minute on Peter Jackson’s “King Kong”, which had a good score, so he’s a good guy in a crunch.
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James Newton Howard did the score for Restoration. He can do no wrong in my eyes.
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OH Grand Canyon … o.k. THAT score I do remember and I did like it, though I was a kid when I saw it (this comment will really date me). Still looking up his other stuff …
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I loved the Peter pan soundtrack when it first came out. I am not worried about the hunger games 
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OMG FLATLINERS … finally some stuff I remember … again I am really dating myself. I did like the music in that one, though I was a kid when I saw that as well.
Listening to this stuff on youtube …
The Fugitive … good movie but I don’t remember the score.
Man in the Moon … good movie but don’t remember the score.
WATERWORLD HAHA … terrible movie. But my husband loves it for some reason.
A lot of M. Night Shyamalan stuff. Meh. Sixth Sense was good and Signs was aiight. Not remembering the score to either though.
Prince of Tides … even I was too young to see that one.
Oh god too many Kevin Costner movies. Blech. Why??
Why do none of these Greatest Hits youtube videos have The Dark Knight on them??
Hmm. I … just … am not sure. A good handful of good films in here … just very few that had memorable scores IMO.
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if you’re still doubting him, look at the soundtrack from the village. that one was beautiful. and he scored the dark knight with hans zimmer, which was like, ONE OF THE GREATEST SCORES OF ALL TIME! i think he’s a good choice
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@Sara – Yeah I just found some Dark Knight videos and that is definitely a good score. Is that the Hans Zimmer influence though? Hahah oh man I am gonna get so many thumbs downs on all my comments, but I’m just trying to keep it real here, people. I’m sure everything will turn out fine, I’m just saying that I’m feeling a bit disappointed right now.
O.k. here’s one positive thing, and this will sound weird cause this movie has not even been released yet, but the fact that this guy is scoring Snow White and the Huntsman actually makes me feel better. I’m no fan of Kristen Stewart, but the trailer for that movie actually looks kinda cool, and the music in the trailer is really cool too. But I have no idea if the trailer music is actually from the movie itself though. Here’s the preview in case anyone hasn’t seen it yet: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/universal/snowwhiteandthehuntsman/ (with thankfully very little of KStew in there).
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Ack, I haven’t watched any movie scored by him that I know of but I LOVE this score:
Black Diamond – London by James Newton Howard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCkVmlSVmns
Love at first hearing(?) I never even heard of this movie before. I am perfectly okay with this change.
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100% fine by me! I like almost all of his music. His song “Flying” for Peter Pan is my favorite instrumental piece, and that’s saying a lot, as I studied only to instrumental music while I was in college.
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@Rachael: Waaaait, he’s scoring Snow White and the Huntsman?! The music in that trailer was awesome. If that’s the case, I’m definitely on board with this guy.
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this is simultaneously worrying and exciting…
one one hand, james newton howard is one of my absolute favorite composers, responsible for some of my favorite scores (lady in the water, king kong, blood diamond, treasure planet etc.)… and he is extraordinarily versatile… and he’s good with the dark dystopia with hints of stunning beauty… and he will absolutely kill the cave scene (in the good way).
but his work has been pretty weak as of late. ex: green lantern. but maybe with the right director and collaboration he will be given the chance to be super duper awesome again. i’m just really hoping he will include some electronic that’s not cheesy guitar, because i think it’s somewhat essential given its futuristic themes, especially for the capitol scenes. but we shall see.
fingers crossedd
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I like Danny, but I’m not mad at James getting the gig, either. I like both of their work.
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OMGSH YESSSSS!!
I was really thrilled about Danny Elfman, but James Newton Howard is probably my second favorite film score composer after James Horner!
His Peter Pan score was UNBELIEVABLE!
This is going to be epic ;]
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I’m not even joking, my wedding is going to be ALL Peter Pan soundtrack music someday lol
Walking down the aisle to “I do believe in fairies” or “flying” lol
now I just have to find a guy who will let that happen…
uh oh lol
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I LOVE the Peter Pan soundtrack!!!
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@Rachael The Dark Knight score is epic. So was King Kong. TLA was bad but I remember the score being beautiful. He has a great track record and is known to score action films. Both composers are great but I would be more at ease with James Newton Howard scoring this film than Danny Elfman.
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I’m a big fan of both composers but I’m kind of disappointed. I really love Danny Elfman’s music, and it would give that dark tone that the movie needs.
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I was hoping to see how the film would turn out with Elfman composing, but James Newton Howard is great! He did an amazing score for Blood Diamonds!
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oh we certaintly are in good hands! I am a movie soundtrack nerd and I absolutly love his work!
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I like Danny Elfman too, but I rather have James Newton howard his music is so beautiful . He did all the much from M. Night Shyamalan movies and the music is beautiful , so why not
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AAAHH! James Newton Howard is one of my favorite composers! This movie keeps getting better!
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Im kinda sad danny elfman isnt doing the score (was really looking forward to it) but really exited to hear what James Newton has to offer! I am sure he will do an amazing job!
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A little late…but nooo! I LOVE Danny Elfman.
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I’m disappointed that Danny Elfman isn’t doing it now because I was looking forward to his music so much. But James Newton Howard’s music is so good and I can’t wait to hear the soundtrack!
I’VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THAT MUSIC AT 5:57 WAS FOR 5 YEARS!!!!! I love that music so much and I’ve listened to it so many times and now it turns out it’s by him!!!!
@Cookie, I agree with you!
The music’s probably going to be really different to what it would have been now. I wonder what Danny Elfman’s music would have been like.
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That’s disappointing…I really like Danny