Disney celebrating John Williams in new documentary this fall

Try to imagine when Yoda lifts Luke Skywalker's X-wing out of the swap of Dagobah in The Empire Strikes Back without the powerful music. The cue mixes Yoda's and the Force themes and shows Luke and the audience the power of belief. This scene and many others would not nearly pack as much of a punch, nor would any of Star Wars be remembered without the music of John Williams.

John Williams composed the music for the main nine films in the Skywalker Saga and has provided themes for several films and TV shows in the franchise. He has also crafted a template for any other composer who tells newer stories as it continues on Disney+ and in theaters.

Now, the celebrated composer is the subject of a new documentary film, Music by John Williams, which is scheduled to premiere in select theaters and on the Disney+ streaming service this fall. Via StarWars.com, AFI (the American Film Institute) announced the film will premiere on October 23rd at the AFI Fest. After a limited theater release, it will launch on the streaming service on November 1st.

Outside of Star Wars, Williams has composed and conducted the scores for numerous films, television series, and commercials in his storied career spanning over 70 years. He has won five Academy Awards and been nominated 54 times, second only to Walt Disney in the nomination category. The documentary will feature interviews with George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Yo-Yo Ma, Ke Huy Quan, Ron Howard, Chris Columbus, and more to discuss the composer's storied career.

It is hard-pressed to imagine the excitement of Jurassic Park, the depth and cost of humanity in Schindler's List, or the heroism of the Olympics without Williams' music. For any Star Wars fan, the franchise's main theme or the countless themes and motifs for the characters bring a sense of wonder to each score Williams conducted.

William's theme and many others will be used as an inspiration to any who undertakes the Star Wars franchise in the form of music. John Powell, who composed the score for Solo: A Star Wars Story, said in an interview with StarWars.com of working and drawing inspiration from Williams. "I mean his compositional abilities… they have a level of mastery that just doesn’t exist really anymore."

That level of mastery will be displayed for the whole world starting on October 23rd, when
Music by John Williams is released.