James Gunn’s highly anticipated “Superman” film has found its musical identity through the collaborative work of composers John Murphy and David Fleming, who have crafted an intricate score that both honors the iconic John Williams legacy and introduces fresh villainous themes for Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor, according to a recent Variety interview.
Lex Luthor Gets His Musical Moment
Murphy, who has worked with Gunn on previous projects including “Suicide Squad” and “Guardians of the Galaxy 3,” reveals that Luthor’s theme was among the first compositions he created for the film. The megalomaniacal villain, portrayed by Hoult as the powerful owner of LutherCorp, actually receives not one but two distinct musical themes.
The first theme makes its grand entrance when Ultraman flies back to LutherCorp headquarters, designed to showcase Luthor’s grandiose nature. The second theme emerges during the film’s climactic third act as Luthor’s true motivations unfold, including his funding of wars and profiteering schemes involving the fictional countries of Boravia and Jarhanpur.
Crafting the Perfect Villain
Creating Luthor’s musical identity proved challenging, with Murphy writing at least six different versions before achieving the right balance. The composer describes the character as Shakespearean in complexity, noting Luthor’s human qualities alongside his narcissistic megalomania.
Fleming, who developed the action sequences built around Murphy’s established themes, praises Hoult as “the secret weapon of this film,” emphasizing that the villain is driven by envy and human vulnerability rather than simple doom and destruction.
Honoring Superman’s Musical Legacy
The composers faced the delicate task of incorporating John Williams’ legendary Superman themes while creating something fresh. Murphy crafted an electric guitar arrangement of the classic theme for a pivotal moment, while Fleming discovered new emotional depths in Williams’ original composition.
Fleming found particular inspiration in what he calls the “back cadence” of Williams’ theme, featuring a “beautiful major seventh jump” that he transformed into an emotional choral piece. This became what he describes as the “crucial piece of DNA for Superman and the throughline of the film.”
A Musical Universe Expanding
The score demonstrates how modern superhero films can respectfully build upon classical foundations while introducing new musical languages for contemporary storytelling. By combining grand orchestral arrangements with guitars, drums, and synthesizers, Murphy and Fleming have created a sonic landscape that reflects both Superman’s heroic legacy and the complex villainy of his greatest enemy.
With the film in theaters now, audiences can experience how these musical themes enhance the eternal struggle between Superman and Lex Luthor on the big screen.
