Hans Zimmer ‘bursting with pride’ to see British protege compose Gladiator II
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British composer Harry Gregson-Williams has said there was “plenty of pressure” following in the footsteps of Hans Zimmer to create the Gladiator II soundtrack, but his former boss was “bursting with pride” on hearing the new music. Gregson-Williams said Oscar-winning composer Zimmer, who wrote the score for the original film, was “one of the first calls” he made after Sir Ridley Scott offered him the Gladiator sequel 18 months ago.
“I was really thrilled to be asked by Ridley, but it was not something I ever expected to do – a sequel to a Hans Zimmer score – him being my old boss and all that,” the composer told the PA news agency. Gregson-Williams moved to Los Angeles in June 1995 to “learn the ropes” as an assistant to Zimmer, who has remained “very supportive and encouraging” of his career.
While recording the new Gladiator soundtrack at Abbey Road Studios in London, Zimmer appeared virtually to hear the new Gladiator music being performed, featuring many musicians who “played the first score for him”. “His face appeared up above the orchestra, and we all had a joyful time doing it – that was great,” Gregson-Williams told PA.
They played him the final cue in the film which contains a nod to Zimmer’s original theme music. “He (Zimmer) was bursting with pride that morning, when he appeared virtually in Abbey Road Studio One in front of the orchestra. He’s never shy of a crowd, I can tell you that much.”.
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