Narnia Composer Talks Hans Zimmer Studio Visit and Collaborating with Andrew Wyatt
Mark Ronson, best known for Uptown Funk and as co-composer and songwriter behind Barbie, has revealed he is once again working with Andrew Wyatt on Greta Gerwig’s upcoming film adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew for Netflix.
While promoting his new book Night People: How To Be A DJ in 90’s New York City, Ronson spoke with Throwing Hands podcast on what he’s most interested in these days.
Content Warning: Episode contains strong language. Quotes have been amended for clarity.
Probably now it’s like old vintage synthesizers. Since we got into scoring some films — you know, Barbie was the first film that me and my partner, Andrew, scored and [we’re] working on Greta’s new film right now.”
Andrew Wyatt, also raised in New York, is a frequent collaborator with Mark Ronson.
In addition to composing Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, Ronson and Wyatt wrote and produced the song ‘Shallow’ from A Star Is Born, resulting in their first Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2019.
Ronson went on to describe a visit to composer Hans Zimmer’s “crazy” Los Angeles studio, which left an impression on him:
Ronson: It’s just like this wall of like modular synths […] And you can do all the sh*t with plugins now but I want to make weird noises. That’s what I want to do.
Interviewer: Love that. Like the [Inception sound effect]?
Ronson: Yeah, like the John Carpenter [style], the people where it still sounds f*cking great if you want to listen to it but [you also just think], what the f*ck is that noise? That’s what I want to do.”
‘Narnia’ has recently completed filming on location throughout England, with production continuing at Shepperton and Longcross Studios until December. NarniaWeb has also learned that post-production will take place in New York rather than the UK, ahead of its theatrical IMAX release next year.
Here’s everything we know about Netflix’s Narnia movies.
Hard to know completely what he’s talking about there, and if he’s even referring to Narnia at all in the latter quote, but I could definitely see Charn as having that sort of 80s Blade Runner synthetic music to give it that unnerving creepy vibe.
The creation of Narnia scene also to my mind necessitates something completely original and musically inventive, so I’m more than happy for them to experiment there as well.
When it comes to the full Narnia scenes though, id probably rather something more traditional, so hopefully they can channel the same sort of energy from the more delicate parts of the Barbie score for that.
Hey — at least “weird noises” seem a whole lot better at this stage than hearing about “pop sounds”.
Looking forward to seeing what Wyatt and Ronson cook up!
@Icarus, I like your positive outlook on things! (+ Your idea of the Charn soundtrack would at least match Jadis’ costume :D)
My gut feeling is that it doesn’t sound like my idea of a Narnia soundtrack – but I’m willing to be positively surprised!
Greta should have picked Hans Zimmer for the soundtrack. I don’t like Mark Ronson on Narnia. It’s a movie set in the 1950s, not in 2023 like barbie where you can use modern songs. I don’t wanna hear modern songs in the movie or I will riot
Well… Concerns about Mark Ronson making music and it sounds like a “pop song” it’s thinking like an actor just being able to do commedy or something. There are Actors that can do a range of genres and do it very well… So a producer also can do! Mark Ronson already won an Oscar for Best Original Song (with Andrew Watt who also is working with him here). They both worked in Shallow (with Gaga).
It also opens a chance (in my mind) that maybe Gaga could be working here… She is in contact with Netflix and Netflix already talked about wanting to work more with her in next projects… And she is very close to Andrew and Mark! (They worked with her in her previous albuns too)
Gaga is a great singer and also sings Opera (wich I can see working pretty well in a Narnia Soundtrack). It might be huge to have her in the soundtrack… It’s like “pop based” artists can really sounds great in classical songs too! (Gaga is a Jazz/Opera trained singer wich fits the 1950’s)
JUST GUESSING!!!!!!!!!
I love hearing this much detail about film scores!
Anyone who can write Uptown Funk and Shallow has the musical skills to write great music. When you’re that good with music, moving genres is very doable. (Maybe not for performers, but I’m talking about producers/ composers.)
Hopefully he’s better expressing sounds than words.
All of this sounds rather awful. The end results will be…interesting, I’m sure. Ick.
Hoping for something unique and not just another John Williams impersonation. Get weird!
Oh, how I long for the day that the individuals involved in this movie can actually talk about the movie they’re making. It’s like they’re afraid to say anything. It’s frustrating to hear stories like this where he’s clearly hinting at something but he stops short of saying anything significant. Hoping we get a trailer in November/December.