John Williams' Health Concerns

That's too bad I hope he's doing well. Also, does that mean the star wars score still hasn't been finished yet for the new movie?

 

I hope he heals quickly thats to bad. the doctor is 100% right, he cant be worried about anything right now. he has to rest. I cant believe im saying this but im sure they can find someone to fill in for him at least for a short time.

 

Looking at the rest of the post... it sounds like it happened earlier this year while Spielberg was still working on Bridge of Spies... which coincides with other reports we have heard.

 

Usually, most big-time film composer mainly right the main themes and have other, smaller composers write the guts of the score under the main composer's supervision. Maybe that's something JW might be doing due to his health.

 

Fixed.

 

I've heard Michael Giachino does it, too.

 

Doesn't williams have a brilliant understudy?

 

Working at something you love and care is the best healing ever.

 

If he does, I haven't heard of him (and no, it's not Michael Giacchino)

 

I thought I read somewhere that he had been training someone for the past few years. He is probably the greatest composer of the last 100-150 years. It will be an absolute shame when he is no longer able to produce music.

 

This is very saddening to hear, but I guess it's no suprise either. I'm very glad to hear he's doing good now though and was able to get back to doing what he does best, and loves to do! As an amateur composer myself, he's without a doubt my biggest inspiration, and I'm very happy to hear that he's atleast able to come back and finish the score.
Afterall, he is 83 years old, and I can only hope that Disney scheduled this in a way that would allow Williams to work in his own prefered speed. Considering his age and legacy, I would not be suprised if everything was planned out according to much of his personal needs. It's unfortunate nonetheless.

And when reading the rest of the article, it seems that this only made him unable to score Bridge of Spies. "What am I gonna do, because I can’t do anything for seven weeks, and then I gotta get back and finish the Star Wars score” - Notice the wording, as he uses then, it sounds like he needs to get back to Star Wars after these seven weeks. So I think we can rest assured.

 

Absolute legend and a god-like genius in every sense of the word, the man's ingenuity is mesmerizing. I hope he carries on for years and years because I'm such a fan of his. But if he was to go soon he'd have lived a far better and longer life than any of us could even dream to aspire to. He's seen and experienced things far beyond our comprehension and lived an extremely privileged life thanks to his absolute genius..So like, it wouldn't be a sad death.

He's the type of guy you'd like to applaud instead of silently mourn when he passes

 

God this upsets me, mainly as a fan of John Williams as a person. But a second wave of disappointment came when I realized the soundtrack will suffer.

This sucks.

I nominate Thomas Newman and Harry Gregson Williams to finish the work on TFA.. and before anyone says it.. NO. Do not get Hans BWWAAAAAAAM Zimmer on this. The guy is great but we need someone with a far more complex and playful style for Star Wars.

Anyway, very upsetting news.

 

I cried a little when I heard this. Not even kidding guys.

 

As far as we know... this has had no impact on TFA.
The original article is from a story told by Spielberg in relation to the music in Bridge of Spies, in particular, why John Williams wasn't the composer.
We first found out that Williams had to pass on Spielberg's movie back in March

"John Williams, however, who has scored every Spielberg film except The Color Purple, has dropped out of the film, due to a “minor health issue, now corrected.” In his place will be Thomas Newman (The Shawshank Redemption), a 12-time Oscar nominee. The Disney press release notes that Williams will reunite with Spielberg on the director’s next picture, The BFG."

So basically... this is just new information, about something that happened earlier in the year.
Turns out the "minor health issue" may not have been quite as "minor" as reported.

 

I am not worried about this in the slightest. If you guys have not heard, Williams was having a lot of health complications with his back for about the past few years and this has led him to stop conducting the Boston Pops for quite some time. He was basically still writing the music for TFA and after writing it, he would be present in the scoring sessions with someone else conducting the music while he made a majority of the suggestions regarding the music. I can almost guarantee JJ and Kathleen were present at the scoring sessions at some level as well as Bob Iger because he really is the new Mr. Star Wars since he bought the franchise.