At 90-years-old, film composer and living legend John Williams continues to create beautiful music and break records. His 2023 Academy Award Nomination for Best Original Score for The Fablemans makes him the oldest person to be nominated for a competitive Oscar. He also maintains the title of most-nominated living person, beating his own record.

To achieve the honor of oldest Oscar nominee, Williams beat out three previous winners, all of whom were nominated at 89 years old. The first was costume designer Ann Roth, who was nominated for her work on Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Rounding out the list is screenwriter James Ivory, nominated for Call Me by Your Name, and French director Agnès Varda, nominated for Faces Places.

If Williams goes all the way and wins the Oscar, he will become the oldest winner in any category. The title is currently held by Ivory. Williams will be 91 at the time of the Oscar ceremony.

While accolades and awards are great Williams does not exactly need them. He has already won 25 Grammy Awards, 7 BAFTAs  5 Academy Awards and 4 Golden Globes. His first Oscar was for Best Scoring: Adaptation and Original Song Score in 1972 for the film Fiddler on the Roof. Williams also won for his work on Star Wars, Jaws, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Schindler’s List.

“Without John Williams, bikes don’t really fly, nor do brooms in Quidditch matches, nor do men in red capes,” said longtime collaborator director Steven Spielberg. “There is no Force, dinosaurs do not walk the Earth, we do not wonder, we do not weep, we do not believe.” Spielberg and Williams have worked on 27 movies together over 43 years.

Williams previously held the title of most-nominated living person with 52 nominations. His Fablemans nod brings his count up to 53. 

Williams is close to beating Walt Disney who holds the title for most Oscar nominations with 59. Williams is currently in second place, so only six more to go.

Beyond awards and glory, Williams work speaks for itself. He is known for his lush movie scores as heard in Superman and the first three Harry Potter films. He is heavily influenced by classical composers such Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss but is unafraid to be more modern as heard in the Close Encounters score.

His most recent project and nomination, The Fablemans, is a semi-autobiographical film directed by Steven Spielberg with a screenplay co-written by Tony Kushner and Spielberg. It tells the coming of age story of a young filmmaker and his complicated yet loving relationship with his parents.

The Fablemans is available for purchase on Amazon Prime and Vudu. You can listen to William’s score on Spotify.

The first cut of Star Wars: A New Hope was famously a disaster. Even taking into that the special effects weren’t complete, the film seemed embarrassingly camp and cheesy. Then, John Williams’ score was added, and suddenly the film worked. It brought an epic, timeless quality to the pic, not to mention gently guiding the audience’s emotions through the plot.

Star Wars is probably Williams’ most popular musical work, though he’s provided scores for a dizzying amount of classics, including Indiana Jones, Jaws, Superman, Jurassic Park and Harry Potter. At the age of 90, he’s been billing each project as his last before retirement, but it sounds like there may just be some gas still in the tank.

Speaking at an event celebrating his work with Spielberg, Williams said that the famed director is impossible to turn down. He went on to note that Spielberg’s father worked past 100, and said “I’ve got 10 years to go.”

Williams doesn’t seem to be slowing down in his ninth decade. In 2022, he worked on Spielberg’s The Fabelmans, while also returning to Star Wars once more to contribute the theme for Obi-Wan Kenobi. In 2023 Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, billed as his “final” score, will release, with the trailer hinting that it’s going to be another rousing score anchored by the iconic Indy theme.

Williams’ work has a timeless quality and his standards aren’t slipping, so as long as he wants to keep making music, we’ll be here to enjoy it.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will hit theaters on Jun 30.

At this point, Indiana Jones 5 seems as mythical as the Ark of the Covenant or the Holy Grail, since Disney’s long-awaited next installment in the archaeological action/adventure franchise has been reshuffled around the schedules so many times that it feels like it’s never actually going to get here. But, if all goes well, Harrison Ford should be cracking that whip on the big screen again next summer.

And as another promise that Indy 5 genuinely is on its way, legendary composer John Williams has now revealed our first taste of his score for the film. Although director Steven Spielberg will be sitting this one out, with Logan‘s James Mangold taking over the reins, Williams is once again on board music duties.

The Star Wars and Harry Potter composer hosted a concert at the Hollywood Bowl on Sept. 2 and, alongside playing some of his greatest works, he gave the audience a treat by premiering “Helena’s Theme,” which he revealed was written for Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s character in the movie. And, if you’re wondering, yes, he had permission to play the theme from Mangold.

Twitter Nick Kumar was in attendance, and shared a snippet of the piece on social media:

We were already aware the Fleabag star was involved as the film’s female lead, but thanks to Williams, we now know her character’s name. At the same event, Williams also described Helena as “an adventurer and a femme fatale,” so it definitely sounds like Indy might have met his match with her. Mads Mikkelsen, meanwhile, is attached as the main villain. Other cast include Boyd Holbrook, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, and Antonia Banderas.

Indiana Jones 5 is currently on course to hit theaters on June 30, 2023. While we wait, check out Williams’ full rendition of “Helena’s Theme” via the video below:

You might not know legendary film composer John Williams by the way he looks, but there’s a much bigger chance you’ve heard his work. Williams has worked on some of the biggest blockbusters of all time, including Star Wars, Jaws, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, E.T., and Harry Potter, to name a few.

However, there’s one franchise the composer hasn’t had a chance to work on yet: James Bond. The five-time Oscar winner, who recently turned 90 years young, told Classic FM he would be extremely excited to work on a Bond film, stating, “I’d love it,” according to Metro.

In the meantime, Williams is busy working on the soundtrack for the next Indiana Jones film, stating that he’s finished about 30% of it.

“I pretty much have the thematic scheme done. But we probably will be working on this into September,” he said, adding, “Writing for film music is very difficult… it’s probably not a profession for all composers because it can be very constricting and possibly very frustrating.”

Despite 52 Oscar nominations so far in his career, Williams said when he’s done with a project, he doesn’t go back and listen to it.

“Once I’ve done, finished with it, I close the book and go onto the next empty page, which has become a way of life. I’m on a very fortunate life path where I’m very happy to get up each day to work. I would feel very deprived if I couldn’t do it.”

Being 90 has its perks, Williams said, because he’s not as affected by the “tension and anxiety” he was when he was a younger man on deadline.

“Whereas now I’m having fun… I invent something – ‘Ah, this can work, I can expand this in this way and orchestrate it in that way.'”

If he gets behind schedule these days, he said, it doesn’t bother him and that it’s “Maybe just an old veteran’s experience.”

There’s a pretty good chance Williams could indeed score the next James Bond film, especially since the franchise is currently in hiatus with star Daniel Craig leaving for good. However, Warner Bros recently signed a contract to continue making James Bond movies until at least 2037.

Given the tenacity Star Wars fans usually showcase in gatekeeping all the things they love about the galaxy far, far away, it’s no wonder that Natalie Holt didn’t really know what to do with Obi-Wan Kenobi‘s score and whether it’d be appropriate to incorporate John Williams’ work into the show’s novel motifs.

The composer recently discussed the process of coming up with the story’s new original soundtrack in a chat with Collider, revealing that the team was essentially lost until Williams came aboard and gave them direction.

“Well, we weren’t sure if we were going to be allowed to use John’s themes, because he wasn’t on board with his Kenobi theme yet at that point. So at the beginning, it was a bit more like, ‘We want to do something bold and new and different for Star Wars,’ maybe more minimal or more emotional and spare.

Once John came on board, it was a problem because it’s like, ‘Oh gosh, but how are people going to feel if they’re seeing Darth Vader, and they’re not hearing his theme, and there’s no payoff in Episode 6">

“But John coming on board, he watched it through and gave permission for us to use his themes in Episode 6, and in various points, and so that unlocked the style palette a bit. And him writing that Kenobi theme. Yeah. It just made it more clear, like, ‘Okay, he’s set the tone, and I’ve got the tent poles now, the parameters within which to write.'”

The soundtrack certainly isn’t the best of what the galaxy far, far away has to offer in of emotional and moving music due to its extensive history, and nor is it Williams’ best work, for that matter, but it nevertheless bears the legendary composer’s distinct creative touch. So, while there were no true reprisals for “Duel of the Fates” or “Battle of Heroes,” the score remains one of the stronger elements in Obi-Wan Kenobi.

There may come a day in the distant future when the Indiana Jones franchise is discovered by archaeologists, but for now, the iconic stories persist, with a fifth Indiana Jones film slated for a 2023 release.

There’s been some changeups to the film’s crew when compared to previous installments; it will be the first Indiana Jones film to not feature a story written by George Lucas, nor to be directed by Steven Spielberg, although the latter still remains as an executive producer. And though legendary composer John Williams is one of the tried-and-true faces set to return for Indy’s latest escapade, the 90-year-old will likely be stepping back from film scores once his work on Indiana Jones 5 has concluded.

In an interview with AP News, Williams noted that while he prefers not to rule anything out, he believes he’s at a point in his life where he can instead focus on other aspects of his craft.

At the moment I’m working on Indiana Jones 5, which Harrison Ford – who’s quite a bit younger than I am — I think has announced will be his last film. So, I thought: If Harrison can do it, then perhaps I can, also. I don’t want to be seen as categorically eliminating any activity. I can’t play tennis, but I like to be able to believe that maybe one day I will.”

Harrison Ford, who will portray the titular action hero for the fifth time, has not publicly stated that Indiana Jones 5 will be his last film, so we hope Williams was mistaken in this regard. Although, with Ford about to celebrate his 80th birthday, we could understand if this will be his last time portraying the stunt-happy archaeologist.

Williams is one of the most decorated film score composers in history, with a whopping 25 Grammy Awards to his name and boasting a list of credits that include Star Wars, Jaws, E.T., Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and Schindler’s List.

John Williams is officially returning to the galaxy far, far away through Obi-Wan Kenobi. During today’s Star Wars Celebration , the genius composer gave fans a sneak peek into his original score for the Disney Plus series by conducting an orchestra, and it promises a continuation of the darker motifs we heard in Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.

Listen to the released snippet from the Obi-Wan Kenobi soundtrack below.

The theme in question doesn’t have a name yet, though there are discernible hints of several Star Wars themes being melded into something completely new. The score is tragically heroic, with an ominous crescendo that teases the adventures to come. Given its rhythmic repeat at the end, this could also comprise part of Obi-Wan Kenobi‘s opening credits, if the limited series indeed features one.

All in all, this theme teases that John Williams has gone after something completely fresh for the Disney Plus series, which, given his creative inclinations, isn’t that surprising to learn. Of course, we still expect the limited series to reprise some old themes like “Duel of the Fates” or “Battle of the Heroes” as they did with the trailers, even if for nothing other than nostalgic value.

This marks the first time Williams has composed new music for the galaxy ever since the Skywalker Saga came to a close with Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. The legendary musician has been absent from all Disney Plus television shows so far, but even Lucasfilm must have felt a void without Williams in a project that boasts two Star Wars legends like Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen.

We’ll soon get to hear the legendary composer at it again when Obi-Wan Kenobi premieres tomorrow on Disney Plus.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker not only marked the end of the Skywalker saga, but also the last time franchise icon John Williams would work in the galaxy far, far away. At least, that’s what we thought. It turns out that Williams actually returned to the Star Wars universe to produce the theme for Disney Plus Obi-Wan Kenobi — and he did it at his own request.

It’s been confirmed that Loki composer Natalie Holt scored the Ewan McGregor-starring TV series, which makes her the first female composer on any Star Wars production. On top of this honor, Holt also got the chance to partner up with a living legend like Williams on the project. Speaking to Vanity Fair, Holt revealed how the multi-Oscar-winning music man came to be involved on Obi-Wan.

“Obi-Wan is a legacy character that John hadn’t written a theme for because he died quite early on in A New Hope. It’s the only legacy character that he hadn’t done,” Holt explained. “So he spoke to [Lucasfilm president] Kathleen Kennedy and said, “I just want to write Benny a theme.” So who can deny him that? And he did, he wrote the Obi theme, and it just embodies the spirit of the show entirely.”

When asked what it was like to not only follow in Williams’ footsteps but also team up with him in this way, Holt itted that the experience was sometimes “overwhelming.”

“Obviously, I’m just thrilled to be mentioned in the same breath as John Williams,” she said. “It’s been exciting and overwhelming at times, because I’m such a fan. I want to pay respect to the history of it, and do it justice as well.”

The news that Williams is coming back to the fold is extremely exciting, especially as he’s finally put right a major oversight and has got to belatedly compose a theme for Obi-Wan. What’s more, fans should be excited to hear Holt’s full score, too. The future looks bright for Holt as her terrific work on Loki has already landed her a DC gig in the form of HBO Max’s Batgirl.

Now we’ve got a whole other reason to be hyped for Obi-Wan Kenobi to get here — so we can hear what musical magic Williams and Holt have cooked up. Thankfully, it’s not too long away now as the six-part event series premieres on Disney Plus this May 27.

Steven Spielberg‘s latest Academy Award nominated film, War Horse, has been announced for Blu-Ray this April. The horse drama that’s taking the Academy by storm has been nominated for a total of 6 awards. I wasn’t a fan of the film at all, but I can see where it might get some best cinematography . The score was generic, the film was bland and the basic message about a boy and his strong bond with his horse was muddled and diluted thanks to Spielberg’s lack of primary focus. Even our own Kristal Cooper didn’t have kind things to say about the film in her review. Here’s a snippet of her thoughts.

In the end, as engaging as War Horse occasionally is, Spielberg mostly resorts to giant Williams-enhanced, wide-screen moments to manipulate the sentiment that the story – remarkable horse or not – should have been able to elicit on its own.

Disney hasn’t announced the tech specs for the four disc Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack, but they have outlined the behind-the-scenes special features. Check out the list below.

• War Horse: The Journey Home
• A Filmmaking Journey
• Through the Producer’s Lens
• Editing and Scoring
• An Extra’s Point of View
• The Sounds of War

War Horse will be available to own on April 3rd, 2012.