As promised, directorMatt ReeveshasdebutedcomposerMichael Giacchino’s Riddler theme from the upcoming superhero filmThe Batman. Featuring haunting vocals and almost no brass or percussion to speak of in the first two minutes, the five-minute track crescendos with bold orchestration in the middle, before bringing it back down toward the end, as if Giacchino has given the theme a three-act structure.
Foreboding and majestic in equal measure, the theme is music befitting a worthy adversary for the Batman.Paul Danoplays the serial-killing villain in the upcoming film, whileRobert Pattinsonstars as The Dark Knight. Reeves hadpreviously debuteda whole suite of themes from the movie, and revealed that Giacchino began working on the music before a single shot had been filmed.
The Batman suite featured the already-iconic new theme, but also included what sounded like a love theme, and another more nostalgic one. Sharing the music, the filmmaker had writtenin a tweetthat he and his producing partnerDylan Clarklistened to the main theme on their way to Pattinson’s screen test. “We both had chills,” he added.
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Reeves and Giacchino go back a long way. They previously collaborated onCloverfield,Let Me In, and Reeves’ twoPlanet of the Apessequels—Dawn of the Planet of the ApesandWar for the Planet of the Apes. Giacchino won an Oscar for Best Original Score for 2010’sUp, and these days, he works frequently on Pixar andMarvel projects. This is his first time working as acomposer for a Batman project.
Reeves has cited many musical influences for both the film and its characters. He told Empire that musically, he was inspired by Nirvana’s “Something’s in The Way,” a song that has been featured prominently in the film’s trailers. Reeves also revealed that hemodeled Pattinson’s Batmanon theKurt Cobain-like figure at the center ofGus Van Sant’sLast Days. Dano’s Riddler, the filmmaker has often said,is inspired bythe real-life Zodiac killer, who terrorized San Francisco in the ‘60s.
The Batmanalso starsZoe Kravitzas Selina Kyle/Catwoman,Colin Farrellas Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin,John Turturroas Carmine Falcone,Jeffrey Wrightas polic commissioner James Gordon,Andy Serkisas Alfred Pennyworth.
The Batmanpremieres in theaters on March 4, followed by a streaming release on HBO Max forty-five days later. Check out the new theme below:
