Batman Begins: Soundtrack Details

By Mark Sung May 24, 2005, 12:32 GMT

On June 15th, Warner Bros. Pictures' BATMAN BEGINS, from director Christopher Nolan, the summer's most anticipated theatrical release, opens nationwide featuring a score that will immediately make music history -- a unique collaboration between two of the screen's most honored and respected composers, Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, working together for the first time. Warner Sunset Records will release the CD for "Batman Begins" on June 14th. The soundtrack contains 12 tracks composed by Zimmer and Howard and is 60 minutes in length.

"Watching this unique collaboration between two great talents has been constantly fascinating and exciting. Their contribution to 'Batman Begins' has been immeasurable," said Nolan.

"Collaborating on this project has been a lot of fun. Since 'Batman Begins' is a character driven story, we wanted to give Batman credibility through the music. We've created a score that tried to stay true to the duality of the character, capturing the motion, energy, darkness and rage of Batman," said Zimmer and Howard.

"Batman Begins" explores the origins of the Batman legend and the Dark Knight's emergence as a force for good in Gotham. In the wake of his parents' murder, disillusioned industrial heir Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. He returns to Gotham and unveils his alter-ego: Batman, a masked crusader who uses his strength, intellect and an array of high tech deceptions to fight the sinister forces that threaten the city.

Zimmer is one of the most respected and talented composers in the business with over 100 film scores to his credit highlighted by his Oscar winning score for "The Lion King" as well as scores for Oscar winning films including "Gladiator," "Rainman," and "Driving Miss Daisy." Zimmer's credits also include "The Last Samurai," "Black Hawk Down," "Thelma and Louise," and the upcoming DreamWorks release "Madagascar."

James Newton Howard, a six time Oscar nominee, is best known for his spine tingling scores for M. Night Shyamalan's "The Village," for which he received an Oscar nomination, as well as "The Sixth Sense," "Unbreakable" and "Signs." Howard's list of credits includes over 90 films including "The Fugitive," "The Prince of Tides" and most recently "The Interpreter."