Will We Hear the John Williams’s “Superman” Theme in “Crisis on Infinite Earths”?

September 29, 2019 Television News 19

With Brandon Routh returning to the role of Superman for the upcoming “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover on The CW, it’s reasonable to wonder whether we might hear the familiar “Superman” theme created by John Williams, which was used for the film “Superman Returns”.

Unfortunately, Executive Producer Marc Guggenheim has revealed via his Twitter account that they are unable to use that piece of music.

Guggenheim didn’t expand on the reasons why they’re unable to use the theme, but it should be noted that Williams’s score was recently heard in episodes of “Krypton” on Syfy.

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19 Comments
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MattComics
MattComics
September 29, 2019 6:45 pm

WB, you own the film AND the characters. Get over yourselves and let them use the theme! Besides, it’s not like your movie division is doing anything with it and you know it.

Superman2878
Superman2878
September 29, 2019 9:31 pm
Reply to  MattComics

Yes! Please CW! Make this happen!!!
Sincerely,
Superman2878
Ruler of Otisberg

afriend
afriend
September 30, 2019 1:42 am
Reply to  Superman2878

Otisberg? Otisberg?! OTISBERG?!?

MattComics
MattComics
September 30, 2019 8:14 am
Reply to  afriend

It’s a little itty bitty place. Miss Tesmacher has her own place!

Superman2878
Superman2878
September 30, 2019 9:30 am
Reply to  MattComics

Ha ha ha! You beat me to the punch MattComics.
Lol.

sundevil82
sundevil82
September 30, 2019 9:00 pm
Reply to  Superman2878

I’ve been meaning to get out to my Marina del Lex summer home, but haven’t had the time.

Superman2878
Superman2878
October 2, 2019 12:02 am
Reply to  sundevil82

Say hi to Miss Tesmacher for me sundevil82. Ha ha!

NeoRanger
NeoRanger
September 29, 2019 7:28 pm

I think it’s probably a licensing thing, perhaps they have to pay royalties to Williams and they don’t want to spend the money. I’m just guessing here, but I do remember that the Superman Returns videogame couldn’t use the music either for this reason.

scarecroe
scarecroe
September 30, 2019 8:14 am
Reply to  NeoRanger

This.

SuperFunTime
SuperFunTime
September 30, 2019 6:51 pm
Reply to  NeoRanger

If so, then pay the royalties. It will be worth it for such a mega event! Looking back to this event in years to come will be totally worth it. Imagine if some of the characters did not show back up in the final battle in Avengers Endgame. Would it have ruined the movie? No. But was that final battle better with them? YES!!! Will this mega crossover be ruined by the lack of the John Williams theme? No. Would it be perceived somewhat better with it? Most definitely. I never considered it [the John Williams Superman theme] as a… Read more »

Randall
Randall
October 1, 2019 10:24 am
Reply to  NeoRanger

Yeah, I remember that, and I’m pretty sure that was a lie. Because Smallville used it later, as well as the Lego Batman 2 game, and that wasn’t even a dedicated Superman game. Given that Superman was a secondary character of the game, I can’t see them spending the money on the JW Music if it was that expensive. This sounds more like corporate politics than it does an issue with royalties.

redcape
redcape
September 29, 2019 8:31 pm

I suppose hearing a little back ground of for a second or two might be OK but I think the theme in general is WAY bigger than any TV show. I certainly wouldn’t want to “cheapen” it.

SuperFunTime
SuperFunTime
September 30, 2019 6:54 pm
Reply to  redcape

I don’t think it cheapens it. This is a one-time mega crossover event. Never before, never again will this happen with these people all together in the same 5 episode story arc.

The TV shows would not cheapen the theme. The TV shows would be that much elevated by the theme for this one-time mega crossover event that will never happen again with all these people in the prime of the DC CW shows and the returning actors from previous DC productions.

sundevil82
sundevil82
September 29, 2019 11:42 pm

WB being cheap. Blind leading the blind over there as usual

krispynachos
krispynachos
September 30, 2019 11:25 am

I sure the reason is money. Think of all the extra actors they’ve gotten for this. They couldn’t even afford to bring in Rosenbaum.

SuperFunTime
SuperFunTime
September 30, 2019 6:56 pm
Reply to  krispynachos

Shell out the money! Shell out the money! From what I understand, even Kevin Feige insisted his superiors shell out the money for Robert Downey Jr in Spider-Man Homecoming and other things because he knew it would be worth it in the long run.

victor4782
victor4782
September 30, 2019 6:06 pm

WHY THE HELL NOT? Two of those men have kicked butt with that beautiful piece of music as their theme song.

SuperFunTime
SuperFunTime
September 30, 2019 6:41 pm

*Sigh* *Faceplam* Marvel & Disney, with Sony’s consent, can get Spider-Man back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe after the original negotiations failed. But WB can’t let the CW use the John Williams Superman theme in their biggest crossover ever? What?!? I truly wonder why the DC CW shows are not allowed to use it for this one-time event. What could possibly be the reasoning? I don’t even see (not that I know what goes on at the WB) what would be the financial reasoning not to. Whoever ultimately has prevented them from using the John Williams Superman theme has truly… Read more »

robojac
robojac
September 30, 2019 9:37 pm

I wonder if they can use Superman’s personal/emotional theme from John Ottman’s excellent SR score? That theme ties directly to Routh’s Superman and was used throughout the movie. You can hear it on the tracks: “To Lois’ House/Your Not One of Them, Power of the Sun, Reprise/Fly Away, and others I’m sure I missed.