'Justice League' To Bring Back Superman's Classic Theme—With a Dark Twist

If there’s one thing that Henry Cavill’s version of Superman is missing, it’s the hopeful and positive vibe. But once “Justice League” hits theaters, fans might just see a glimpse of that once again as John Williams’ iconic Superman theme makes its comeback—with a few modifications, of course.
When Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel” debuted, a darker version of the Last Son of Krypton was seen by many. This led to a divided feedback by fans and critics. But based on general reviews, it wasn’t exactly the Superman that everybody was expecting. Back in 1978, Christopher Reeve debuted the superhero on the big screen. He went on to become the iconic and near-perfect depiction of the comic book superhero—and Williams’ score made it all the better. His theme gave people the chills (and some even the tears!) whenever they would hear it. For them, it was the perfect musical representation for the Man of Steel.

The DC Extended Universe’s Superman, however, is a completely different take on the character. When William’s theme song wasn’t included in the new “feel” of Cavill’s Superman, fans were left wondering how it would work. In some way, it did, but there was still something missing. But now that “Justice League” is a month away, reports are saying that the iconic theme song will be heard again after all—albeit a new (and still darker) twist.

John Williams’ Superman theme to make a return in ‘Justice League’

In an interview with Billboard, Danny Elfman—who previously did the score for two of Tim Burton’s movies, “Batman” and “Beetlejuice”—is returning to the DC Universe by teaming up with mainstay DCEU composer Junkie XL (Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, Wonder Woman, Suicide Squad) to recreate Superman’s theme.

“There are a few little fan moments,” Elfman said “I instated a moment of the Wonder Woman theme that Hans Zimmer did for Batman v Superman, but I also had two minutes where I had the pleasure of saying, ‘Let’s do John Williams’ Superman,’ and that for me was heaven, because now I have a melody to twist, and I’m using it in an actually very dark way, in a dark moment. It’s the kind of thing that some fans will notice. Some won’t. It’s a moment where we’re really not sure whose side he’s on.”
The composer’s comments not only aims to bring back a little bit of the original Superman feel but also confirms that the Man of Steel will indeed be brought back from the dead. In “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice,” he died at the hands of Doomsday but his return has been teased lots of times across “Justice League’s” marketing.
With the somewhat return of the classic theme, it’s a welcome treat for fans who have been longing for a glimpse of the old, hopeful Superman. Maybe it’s time for him to bring the light back, after all.