The iconic scores of John Williams will be celebrated with documentary “Music by John Williams.”
The Disney+ film reunites legendary composer Williams with his frequent collaborators Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, and Kathleen Kennedy, who all produce the documentary. Williams has scored films such as “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones,” and “Jurassic Park,” and in 2023 made history as the oldest Oscar nominee in any category for “The Fabelmans.” The composer has a total of 54 Oscar nominations and five wins.
“Music by John Williams” will “offer a fascinating and insightful look at the prolific life and career of the legendary composer,” according to the official logline. “From his early days as a jazz pianist to his Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy wins, the documentary takes an in-depth look at Williams’ countless contributions to film, including many iconic franchises, as well as his music for the concert stage and his impact on popular culture.”
The documentary also includes interviews with artists and filmmakers “whose lives have been touched by his timeless music,” including George Lucas, J.J. Abrams, Chris Martin, Chris Columbus, Yo-Yo Ma, Ke Huy Quan, James Mangold, and Alan Silvestri.
The documentary will open the 2024 AFI Fest on October 23, eight years after Williams received the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2016.
Steven Spielberg, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, Sara Bernstein, Justin Wilkes, Meredith Kaulfers, Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall produce the documentary. “Music by John Williams” director Laurent Bouzereau also produces. Markus Keith and Michael Rosenberg serve as executive producers.
Spielberg credited Williams’ contributions to his own film career during a dedication ceremony at the Sony Pictures’ Culver City lot for the newly renamed John Williams Music Building. Williams exited retirement to score “The Fabekmans,” Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical film.
“In the end I don’t recognize the movies as mine but as ours,” Spielberg told Williams at Sony. “Thank you Johnny, my movies would not be the same without you.”
“Music by John Williams” is a Lucasfilm Ltd, Amblin Documentaries, and Imagine Documentaries production.
“Music by John Williams” premieres November 1 on Disney+ and will have a limited theatrical release in New York, Los Angeles, and London. Check out the trailer below.
