In an interview with Inverse, Danny Elfman (Spider-Man, Beetlejuice) confirmed he is scoring the 2022 movie Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness with director Sam Raimi.
“I am starting to do bits of pre-work for Doctor Strange 2 that Sam Raimi’s directing,” Elfman said. “Even though I don’t start it for some months, there’s bits of recorded music they need for the sets.”
Naturally, Elfman couldn’t reveal much about the new Marvel Studios movie, but the film does mark a Marvel-reunion between Elfman and Raimi, who first worked together on the 1990 superhero noir Darkman followed by Spider-Man in 2002 and Spider-Man 2 in 2004. Disagreements between Elfman and Raimi led to the musician exiting the franchise for 2007’s Spider-Man 3. In the years since, the two mended fences and collaborated once more for the 2011 Disney fantasy film Oz the Great and Powerful.
Elfman’s Marvel Scores
This isn’t the first Danny Elfman score for a Marvel Studios movie, either. He delivered music for Avengers: Age of Ultron, which was a change of pace from The Avengers score by Alan Silvestri. Elfman also provided music for the theatrical cut of Justice League, the entire Men in Black franchise, the original Mission: Impossible movie, and many of Tim Burton and Gus Van Sants’ films over the years. Elfman’s Oscar nominations are from Van Sant films (eg. Good Will Hunting).
Elfman gave us the iconic Batman Theme from Burton’s Batman, and the The Simpson’s Theme. Will he create a new theme for Multiverse of Madness? He has a gift for creepy-yet-magical worlds, as demonstrated by his work composing the scores for Edward Sizzorhands, Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride and the movie 9, that could be a great match for Stephen Strange’s mystical universe.
Speculations
It is speculated that the “multiverse” here refers to a convergence of past Marvel film franchises — specifically the different versions of Spider-Man.
The first Doctor Strange film had music by Michael Giacchino. The latter is busy scoring the upcoming Spider-Man film from Sony/Marvel, scheduled for December 2021. It is rumored (and not confirmed) that Tobey Maguire — whose first two Spidey films Elfman scored and Rami directed — will reprise his Spider-Man role. Actors Alfred Molina and Jamie Foxx, both of whom played villains in past Spider-Man films, are also reported also to be returning to their roles. This leads to speculation that they might appear in Rami’s Doctor Strange as well.
It’s also possible that Olsen’s Scarlet Witch may connect Strange 2 with her streaming series WandaVision. Stay tuned!
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is being directed by Sam Raimi, written by Jade Halley Bartlett and Michael Waldren, produced by Kevin Feige, stars Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch, Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Stephen Strange, Rachel McAdams as Dr. Christine Palmer, Benedict Wong as Won, Chewetel Ejiofor as Mordo, and Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez, is slated for release March 25, 2022 (this film will be the first live-action appearance of the Marvel hero America Chavez).
Meanwhile, here’s Danny’s latest music video – an epic return to his Oingo Boingo punk roots.
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David Raiklen wrote, directed and scored his first film at age 9. He began studying keyboard and composing at age 5. He attended, then taught at UCLA, USC and CalArts. Among his teachers are John Williams and Mel Powel.
He has worked for Fox, Disney and Sprint. David has received numerous awards for his work, including the 2004 American Music Center Award. Dr. Raiklen has composed music and sound design for theater (Death and the Maiden), dance (Russian Ballet), television (Sing Me a Story), cell phone (Spacey Movie), museums (Museum of Tolerance), concert (Violin Sonata ), and film (Appalachian Trail).
His compositions have been performed at the Hollywood Bowl and the first Disney Hall. David Raiken is also host of a successful radio program, Classical Fan Club.
