Watch the MAN OF STEEL Trailer with John Williams’ SUPERMAN Theme

The first teaser trailer for director Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel finally debuted last weekend with The Dark Knight Rises, and audiences were given their first taste of what the new iteration of Superman will entail. While the clip didn’t show nearly as much footage as the reel we saw at Comic-Con, it did a pretty nice job of announcing to audiences that a new—and decidedly different—Superman is on the way. My only minor qualm with the trailer was the use of Howard Shore’s incredibly recognizable (and fantastic) score from The Lord of the Rings. I was left thinking, “Did Gandalf just die?” instead of being wholly enveloped by this new Superman story.

For fans that weren’t crazy about the music choice, or for classic Superman fans in general, the Internets have kicked up quite the gem. Someone has removed Shore’s score and replaced it with John William’s classic theme from 1978’s Superman as the backing track for the Man of Steel trailer. Hit the jump to check out the incredibly swell new cut.

Here’s the John Williams Cut trailer via Giant Freaking Robot, followed by the trailer for the original Superman.

Jeff

I love the original Superman score, but I don’t think it will fit with the new movie. I could be wrong.
Eric Nixon

I didn’t care for this. At all. I thought the music didn’t fit the tone of the footage.

And then the shot of him flying straight up happened. And I started to tear up like a little girl.
- Bakes
  
  YES
jimmyjocabs

sooo much worse than the normal one.
EBo Rises

Get over the nostalgia! The music is as dated as the red underwear!

We want a new Superman with new music!
- This Guy
  
  Exactly !
- Jack
  
  No Offense, But the Music is as outdated as James Bond theme or the Star Trek Theme. In other words its not. And the Underwear has been a part of the character from Day One. Frankly i would rather they keep it on then see Superman huge Cogpeice.
sense 11

This is just sad and pathetic.
Strong Enough

doesn’t work.

people need to get off John Williams and Donner’s crotch already.

This is this generation Superman. He deserves his own theme and Hans will make sure of that.
- Bob
  
  I totally agree!
  - BradZuhl
    
    Agree. This is like putting the music from the 1960′s Batman TV show against the trailer for The Dark Knight Rises, i.e., there’s not point to it whatsoever.
solgazer

Crap. Feels like fanboys incapable of moving on. No doubt these guys will be moaning hard when the movie doesn’t have Christopher Reeve C.G.’d onto Henry Cavills face. Usually I like that kind of thing but this was a complete FAIL. Loved the L.O.T.R. music and am excited for the tone it sets. That 70′s awfullness was just that, awful.
Ryan Alaris

I saw the trailer before Batman and let me tell you – the LOTR music was instantly recognizable to me since I listen to the soundtrack …all…the…time. I almost teared up at the end too. Perfect! I just hope the final score reflects the same emotional tone. The Superman / Savior motif is a powerful one that tugs at the heartstrings. Good Job Zack or whoever exec decizged this music.
- Austin
  
  I hear ya brother. They better have paid money to use that. Amazing music. Deserves the best.
Ethan

At first I was weirded out by the LOTR score, but I got over it. It fits perfectly with the tone of this beautiful trailer. This version? Not so much.
- Aiden_Rush
  
  Exact same thoughts.
Grayden

I love Christopher Reeve’s Superman, but people seriously need to stop applying “old school” to “new school” because they’re butthurt about the direction of the project, in whatever capacity is making them pissy. The choice of music for the MoS teaser was fine and fit the tone. Yes, it made me think of everyone crying after Gandalf fell with the Balrog in Moria. For 5 seconds, and then I focused on the trailer and what it was telling me. And it worked.
Grayden

I love Christopher Reeve\’s Superman, but people seriously need to stop applying \"old school\" to \"new school\" because they\’re butthurt about the direction of the project, in whatever capacity is making them pissy. The choice of music for the MoS teaser was fine and fit the tone. Yes, it made me think of everyone crying after Gandalf fell with the Balrog in Moria. For 5 seconds, and then I focused on the trailer and what it was telling me. And it worked.
Nate H

I love the old school Superman, and I LOVE that theme song…but not with this trailer. I agree – new Supes needs a new song. LOTR worked fine for the teaser. All the die-hards can just wait until next year when the real thing is scored. I’m sure it will be great. Hans Zimmer rocked out the Nolan Batman trilogy, Inception, both Kung Fu Pandas (that seems like a joke, but listen to the music!), The Lion King, and many others. He’ll do just fine.
Pingback: Watch the Man of Steel trailer cut with John Williams’ classic Superman theme | Swiftfilm
john

Can someone wheel John Williams into the nursing home already and let real artists work please.
- Ben
  
  That’s one of the most ignorant things I’ve ever read on the internet. And I’ve read some doozies.
- Marc
  
  Ow yeah, John Williams is not a real artist. Damn, the themes of STAR WARS, SUPERMAN, INDIANA JONES, HARRY POTTER, JAWS, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS, SCHINDLER´S LIST, WAR OF THE WORLDS, TINTIN and other “stupid” movies clearly must not be from a real artist. Even my dog could do themes better than that, right? Geez… nothing to do here!
- snapperhead
  
  I can appreciate most of the comments here. Man of Steel is an attempt to create a new version of the Superman myth, and the use of the classic score is probably inappropriate. But your statement is simply rude. To insult John Williams in such a fashion shows that you, sir, understand nothing of music or film history. A feeble attempt at wit, I suppose. Keep practicing.
- Ilamathi Selvan
  
  Let me start by saying I wasn’t even born when the John Williams theme for Superman came out. I’m a Hollywood film buff from India & the first time I heard the music was way-back in the early nineties. I loved it then and still love it. Now I like Mr.Zimmer’s too. And my respect for him has increased since Inception and Nolan’s Batman trilogy. But, Mr. Zimmer himself has said in a recent interview that it is a tough job and he can come nowhere near John Williams who he kept referring to as the Master. A superb musician himself says Williams score is the best . And if you have a good ear for music you should have gotten goosebumps at hearing Williams score for superman. I, for one, get goosebumps whenever I listen to any of Williams music. But, if you would like to hear a new score for superman, its alright. But please do not insult people with talent when your talent is merely dissing talented people on web. Have any of us ever heard anything you scored for films. Unless you’r Mr.Zimmer or Mr. Williams, please shut up.
- Migzter13
  
  and frankly… you REEK of troll…
  - john
    
    Wow you all need to take a few lessons in sarcasm
Marc

The teaser is OK, the LOTR track is awesome ad maybe it connects the emotion the teaser wants us to feel, but it´s LORD OF THE RINGS. Also, I 100% respect Zimmer, and some of his work is awesome (the Inception stk is outstanding), but he never did any ‘classic’ theme as John Williams did. I bet that in 40 years from now, NOBODY will hum ‘Kung Fu Panda’ themes, but I do think that our grandsons will play ‘Empíre March’ by the REAL ARTIST John Williams on their Rock Band Next for Xbox 1080. Hanz Zimmer is a very capable compositor, but he´s MILES behind William´s greatness. Quoting the dude from Aint It Cool News, concerning Zimmer having to do a BETTER theme for Superman: “good luck. you´re gonna fucking need it”.
Trick

I’m sorry, but that was..terrible
Elegance has turned to awkwardness with that “new” score
Going to watch the original teaser now
Pingback: There Fixed It: New Superman Trailer With Brando Voice Over and Williams Theme Music | nerdbastards.com
Harry

This is a new Superman. Bring me a new score. Let’s move on please.
Kudos to John Williams for the original.
But let’s move on.
- Armand
  
  Couldnt have put it better myself, I have faith that this will be DCs next great big screen hero
vxx

Some people are taking this too seriously. Looks like it was just a fun little side project for someone. Relax.
Sean

More importantly, LOTR trailers should not have appropriated Clint Mansell’s Requiem for a Dream in a decidedly non-requiem fashion.
Bob

The original teaser with Russel Crow voice of was 10,000 times better than this. I actually had goosebumps by the end of the actual teaser. This just didn’t really do anything. It just ruins the tone the movie is trying to set imo.
Anonymous

Yep. Pretty much. It isn\’t about moving on as so many say. The Williams theme IS Superman. It\’s a masterpiece and as much as Zimmer scored with Pirates, I just don\’t see him coming up with anything remotely awe-inspiring or invigorating. Yes, I\’m 33 and grew up with Reeve, but the theme cannot be outdone — that\’s one thing Singer knew not to mess with.
Dean

I am sure gonna miss that theme in the new movie… it is so epic!!
Dare Devil

Seriously why would any one do that………….. that really sucked life out of it
Drake

Wow if these comments are from fans of Superman then I don’t want anything to do with you people. blinkered and stubborn to an extreme. You all sound like something from the handmaidens tale.

P.s. the teaser was boring and could have easily been an advert for an insurance company or an erectile dysfunction advert. Adding the voice over of an actor with presence and then using John Williams amazing piece of music made this teaser better but it was still boring and a piece of shit!
BradZuhl

Agree. This is like putting the music from the 1960\’s Batman TV show against the trailer for The Dark Knight Rises, i.e., there\’s not point to it whatsoever.
- Jack
  
  Really are you saying that the 1960′s Batman Theme is comparable to John Williams Theme. Really. A better comparison would be Danny Elfmen’s 89 Batman theme. Both are better than Zimmermen Theme for Nolan Trilogy.
bolisk

People may hate me. . .but I actaully like this version better! When the superman notes started playing during the butterfly and showing yough clark in the cape. . .I damn nearly cried.

Really wish they would figure out a way to work John Williams theme into the movie. You just cannot have superman without that theme. . .it’s just wrong. Imagine a star wars movie without the theme. . .or a James Bond move, or a Harry Potter, or a Jaws. . .there are just some things that should NOT be tampered with. Superman theme being one of them. I’m very disapointed.
- Cartersvillevol
  
  THIS is an intelligent post. Nice job!
  - Jack
    
    Yeah there very rare
Eric

Honestly I liked both versions of the trailer, Costners and Crowes, and I really liked this one, except for the last notes, it finishes poorly, so it leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth. Now I would have liked to have seen Russel or Costner’s voice with old school score. Or possibly a variation of it. But I am a sucker for the old school Superman. So am biased.
Eric

Honestly I liked both versions of the trailer, Costners and Crowes, and I really liked this one, except for the last notes, it finishes poorly, so it leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth. Now I would have liked to have seen Russel or Costner\’s voice with old school score. Or possibly a variation of it. But I am a sucker for the old school Superman. So am biased.
eganoipse

Hmmmm….interesting how people are saying this is a new Superman, there should be a new theme, and this version is crap, when the original teaser featured music from a completely different film with completely different sensibilities. Personally I find that as a teaser to a new version of the story, including the William’s score is a nice homage to the previous films – and that’s all it should be taken to be. Obviously this music wouldn’t fit as the score for the entire film, but I find it makes the teaser even more appealing then the LOTR music (however, having the narration of Crowe and Costner would have made it even better). Almost everyone has been saying that this should NOT copy Batman Begins, that it’s too dark for Superman. People need to make up their minds!!

I do love the fanboy on fanboy hate over all the new “re-imaginings” of so many different superhero characters.
jasperwolf

I find it hysterically funny that what, 1% of people who see the Man of Steel trailer recognize the temp track from Lord of the Rings? How many times have Carmina Burana or Silverado been used in trailers? Better to have no music at all, except that would also tick off the fanboys. Face it, there is no pleasing them. However the movie turns out, there will be lovers and haters of it. Put your energy to work helping those in Colorado where it can make a genuine and real difference. What happened there is something based in real life to cry about. boys.
jasperwolf

So, 1% recognize the use of Lord of the Rings music as a temp track and weep? Yeah, the studio is going to dry their tears with fresh sheet music. Better to have no music at all, except that would also upset the delicate fanboys. Face it, there is no pleasing them. However the movie turns out, there will be lovers and haters of it. Put your energy to work helping those in Colorado where it can make a genuine difference. What happened there is something based in real life to cry about. boys.
Singularity

That was both awesome and amazing at the same time… but piggy-backing on the greatness of the Reeves films.

Superman: The Movie will probably prove to be better written than Man of Steel. It’s tough to compete with Mario Puzo. Williams’ music will also probably prove to be better, but you can’t hang onto that era forever.
A

That fukin sucked, the Superman anthem comes on when we see the shot of the dog?!? What? Its Superdog?!?!

FAN FAIL
Pingback: Does The Inclusion of John Williams’ Theme Make for a Better ‘Man of Steel’ Teaser? | Durance Magazine
Pingback: SR Geek Picks: ‘Dark Knight Rises’ Hangover & ‘Man of Steel’ Trailer with John Williams Music — Red Dwarf Media
David

Hans Zimmer is a horrible composer. He is predictable, safe and some what cheap. Music scores are no where they used to be and I’m always sad to see when studios treat music scores -like they do writers- as a necessary evil.
- Weeks
  
  That’s a bit harsh. Zimmer is the heir to John Williams. I look at his music as a natural evolution from Williams’s work, a newer, modern version of it.
  - Jack
    
    No offense, But Zimmer couldnt do a better job then Danny Elfmen. Theres no way he can do better then John Williams.
Michael P. Shipley

Wow that music was much better than the LOTR music, especially the beginning. So beautiful.
Michael P. Shipley

Wow that music was so much better than the LOTR music, especially the beginning. I have a feeling this Superman version will be like the new Spiderman; good but not as good as the original.
Pingback: Nerd Up! | VOTD: New Superman Trailer with Marlon Brando & John Williams
Pingback: TOP 5: MAN OF STEEL, THE CAMPAIGN, CLOUD ATLAS, THE WATCH, Batman by the Numbers | Collider
Simon Paiva

First of all, I believe the use of the LotR score in the original teaser was sooo.. wrong. You just can\’t mess with some movies soundtracks. It\’s unimaginable to watch a trailer for any film listening to the score of The Godfather or Gone with the Wind or Lawrence of Arabia, it\’s the exact same thing with LotR, it\’s worse, in this case, it\’s blasphemous.

As for the rest, as I was never a fan of the Donner version of Superman, and never trully apreciated him as a character, I dont have an opinion on this matter. I am still waiting to trully apreciate a Superman film.
Pingback: Influence Film – movies news » TOP 5: MAN OF STEEL, THE CAMPAIGN Set Visit, CLOUD ATLAS Trailer and Images, THE WATCH Interviews, Batman by the Numbers
Pingback: Zack Snyder Talks MAN OF STEEL; Confirms Film Won’t Use John Williams’ Music | Collider
Steve

I’ve seen this trailer a few times. I love Superman and want to be excited for this, but I’m just not, and this trailer does nothing for me. Then Snyder saying no to the Williams theme all but killed any interest I had.
Then I watch this, one time, and I have goosebumps. For me, there will never be a Superman film without Williams theme. If Snyder isn’t going to use it, then I honestly hope the film fails. Some people will find that petty, and so be it, but for me, THAT is how important, how much difference the Williams theme can make.
Pingback: SR Geek Picks: ‘Man of Steel’ Trailer with John Williams Music & ‘Dark Knight Rises’ Roundup

Watch the MAN OF STEEL Trailer Set to John Williams’ SUPERMAN Score

by Adam Chitwood Posted: July 24th, 2012 at 4:04 pm

Tags:

Related Links:

Comments:

Features