The legendary John Williams is now 91 and has had a storied career which includes composing themes and scores for franchises such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and Superman: The Movie.
His career has spanned a whopping seven decades and it was in 2022 that Williams strongly hinted he would retire following the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. That movie ended up being something of a critical and commercial disappointment, perhaps explaining why the composer is now mulling over a comeback.
In an interview with The Times, Williams withdrew his comments about retiring by saying "everything is possible" when it comes to his future plans.
"I don’t care much for grand pronunciamentos, statements that are firm and finished and surrounded by closed doors," he explained. "If I made one without putting it in context then I withdraw it. If a film came along that I was greatly interested in, with a schedule that I could cope with, then I wouldn’t want to rule anything out."
"Everything is possible. All is before us. Only our limitations are holding us back," Williams added. "Or, to put it more simply: I like to keep an open mind."
He's clearly not making any firm commitments here but speculation among fans is already running rampant. There's chatter online that Williams could be tempted back to compose a score for the upcoming Star Wars movie featuring Daisy Ridley's Rey, while many believe he could create a new theme for Max's upcoming Harry Potter TV series.
Then, there's Superman: Legacy. While absolutely nothing is confirmed, it's worth pointing out that filmmaker James Gunn has confirmed a composer has already created the Man of Steel's new theme, and who better to enlist than the man who dreamed up Superman: The Movie's unforgettable theme?
"The costume is mostly done but we’re still going back and forth on some elements," Gunn said last year. "A lot of the score - maybe even most of the major themes - have already been written."
Asked why he hadn't announced the reboot's composer, he added: "I have to check...And yes I know that sounds crazy since so much of the score has been written, but when you’re riding the waves of inspiration, what are you going to do? I wrote most of Peacemaker and all of Creature Commandos before I had a closed deal!"
We'll see what happens, but the simple fact Williams is no longer retiring is definitely cause for celebration!