Lorne Balfe Replaces Alexandre Desplat As ‘Black Widow’ Composer Late In Post-Production
Black Widowmay have a new composer. As the release of the comic book film remains in limbo amid the growing coronavirus pandemic, Marvel Studios has reportedly replaced initialBlack WidowcomposerAlexandre DesplatwithMission: Impossible – FalloutandBad Boys for LifecomposerLorne Balfe.
According toFilm Music Reporter, Lorne Balfe will be scoring the music forBlack Widow.It appears that Balfe will be replacing two-time Oscar winner Alexandre Desplat, who was originallyconfirmed as the composerearlier this year.
This replacement comes pretty late into the film’s post-production, seeing asBlack Widowwas initially set to debut in theaters in May 2020. But Disney and Marvel have sincedelayedBlack Widowindefinitely in the wake of the escalating coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has broughtHollywood to a halt, shuttering movie theaters and productions across the world. So it seems that Marvel is using the time to bring in Balfe to compose the score.
This isn’t the first time that Balfe has worked with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’s also credited for additional music alongside Ramin Djawadi for 2008’sIron Man. The Scottish composer is best known for his credits onMission: Impossible – Fallout, Bad Boys for Life, The LEGO Batman Movie, and12 Strong. He’s also frequently contributed additional music to films scored by Hans Zimmer, includingThe Dark Knight, Inception, and more, so he’s no stranger to scoring superhero movies.
But this comes as a blow to Desplat fans, especially since the Oscar-winning composer, who recently earned his 11th nomination for his lovelyLittle Womenscore, has been spurned by Disney before —getting replacedas the composer onStar Wars: Rogue Oneafter reshoots.
Directed byCate Shortlandfrom a screenplay by Jac Schaeffer and Ned Benson, Black Widowstill does not have a set release date after being indefinitely delayed amid coronavirus concerns.
At birth the Black Widow (aka Natasha Romanova) is given to the KGB, which grooms her to become its ultimate operative. When the U.S.S.R. breaks up, the government tries to kill her as the action moves to present-day New York, where she is a freelance operative.
