Due to scheduling conflicts, Alexandre Desplat has been replaced as the composer of the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story score with Michael Giacchino.
A year ago, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2 composer Alexandre Desplat confirmed he would be composing the score for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. But according to The Hollywood Reporter, he has been replaced due to scheduling conflicts.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 12: Composer Alexandre Desplat arrives for the UK film premiere of ‘Florence Foster Jenkins’ at Odeon Leicester Square on April 12, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
The weeks-long reshoot for Rogue One which took place this summer shook up the film’s production schedule., and THR says this change in schedule is what led to Desplat no longer being able to compose the score.
His replacement, however, is by no means a disappointing alternative. The man who is now set to compose the score for Rogue One is Michael Giacchino, whose past score credits include the new Star Trek films and Disney Pixar’s The Incredibles.
PARIS, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 02: Michael Giacchino performs during Festival des Musiques a l’ Image at Le Grand Rex on November 2, 2014 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Wolff – Patrick/Redferns via Getty Images)
To get a sense of Giacchino’s work, listen to the main theme he wrote for The Incredibles soundtrack.
There are a couple of things to learn from the above track, about Giacchino and what he can bring to the music of Rogue One. Giacchino’s main theme for The Incredibles has two important qualities. First, its classic, 1960s’ vibe and fast-paced rhythm fits the film to a “T.” Giacchino captured the entire feel of The Incredibles in one theme. That’s exactly what you want in a film score. The second thing this track does is sound distinctive. Maybe it’s because I’ve seen The Incredibles several times in my life so far, but the theme is memorable to me. It’s catchy. If I hear it, I instantly think of The Incredibles, and I don’t mistake it for a track on another film.
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When you hear a mediocre score, you don’t remember any of it. It doesn’t run through your head (unless it’s annoying). You don’t think of any specific film when you hear it. But when you hear the main theme of The Incredibles, you think of The Incredibles. Just like when you hear the Star Wars theme, and you think of Star Wars.
What Giacchino is able to do is take a classical musical aesthetic and turn it into something that sticks in your mind as a new, autonomous entity. Which, if you think about it, is the whole point of Rogue One and all the Star Wars standalone films: taking stories, characters, and the galaxy we know and love, and turning it into something fresh and fun.
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Shakeups with film production happen, and yes, they can be worrisome. In this case, however, I think Giacchino replacing Alexandre Desplat may be a blessing in disguise.