Nicholas Hooper Will Not Compose Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
So, it’s confirmed by none other than Nicholas Hooper himself in an interview with FSM Online.
Here’s what he had to say:
FSMO: You may not be at liberty to say this, but are you planning on returning on the final films? Has that been decided?
NH: I actually decided I wouldn’t. It impinged on my life and my family too much to do it again. We managed to cope with two of them, and I just felt it was time to hand it on. I’ve always felt in my heart that a certain composer whose name you know well should do the last one anyway, since he started it off. As for the penultimate one, I don’t know. But sadly, no. I felt I needed to withdraw at this point.
And with that little nugget of information… let the speculation begin! John Williams to return? Patrick Doyle? Someone new to the franchise? What do you all think?
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Comments
My original vote was with John Williams, though after reading Deathly Hallows I’m really wanting to hear Hans Zimmer (The Dark Knight).
I wish it would be Patrick Doyle if it cannot be Hooper. Doyle’s has actually been my favorite score. I just am tired of the derivative Williams sound and think it would be a disappointing fit for the gravitas of the Potter last films. Unless he could break with his trademark sound, it would be a disservice to employ Williams.
Joshua Martinkovic Reply:
August 1st, 2009 at 5:35 am
Please I Don’t Want it to be John Williams because he is to
old and very boring and does nothing new.
I would really like to see Patrick Doyle or Illan Eshkeri
do the Harry Potter and Deadly Hallows Part I& II because
the best composers in business and they would do greatjob
at it .
[...] we learn, from an interview with Film Score Monthly, Hooper has decided to step down and not write music for Deathly Hallows. [...]
John Williams may have a familiar sound, but lets be honest; we can remember (and sing) every soundtrack he’s ever done. He’s a genius. Even my 3 year old recognizes the songs. It is the music that gives a movie real sticking power and he is definitely the one to do it.
John williams has 5 films to score before 2012! Two Steven Spielberg movies, two harry potter ( if his schedule permits it) and a tintin film ( also Steven Spielberg)
For me it sounds like Williams is planning a big return. with only one score from 2006 to 2009 it is about time!
Please let Williams return!
To the ones here that say that Williams is getting to old: Have you listen to star wars 3,memoirs of geisha, star wars 2, harry potter 3 and star wars 1?
he might not be as good as he was in the 70′s and 80′s but he is still the best!
KIC Reply:
August 7th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I have scoured the net and see no confirmation Williams is a done deal. If he really does have three other films lined up that would be suicide (at least for the score). Yes, JW has composed some awesome scores but often, especially in later years his scores are derivative (and I could even argue Star Wars, much as I love it, was derivative – he must thank God every day for Holzt’s The Planets) of himself, in particular. To me, the Potter films series has outgrown the touch of John Williams. I still say people are nuts to criticize HBP soundtrack. Everyday I find new nuances that just excite me. As a *sound track*, performing the function as they *should* of facilitating the movie, acting as coloring and nuancing and even another cast member, it is excellent. I just hate to see a thene heavy, old -fashioned JW score on the last two films. I do believe he could do something really great (Azkaban *was* a very good soundtrack) if he was focused on just those, but it concerns me *even more* to think he might be trying to score 5 films at once.
Look at the wikipedia site for deadly hallows part 1. it says: Music by: John williams.
JW started it all, please let him finnish it! i don’t get the idea of not using john williams for 5 and 6 (and 7 for that matter!). on HP 4 he chosed memoirs of geisa instead of harry potter, but why couldnt he score hp5? i agree with you that JW doesnt make so MANY good scores longer, but his latest Oscar nomination was in 2005 (he has only released one soundtrack after that) so he can’t be that bad,hm?.
What separates JW from other composers is that you can listen to the soundtrack without the picture and still enyoy it. it is fun and exiting to listen on his albums. and it works perfectly woth the picture also! when you watch a movie with JW soundtrack it is very often a good movie. that is because he has a genuine style that creates wonderfull orchestral music with themes that fits perfectly for the person, situation or enviroment. he is not longer so good at cominding all this ideas into one piece but he still makes the best music in the soundtrack industry.
The problem with us two ( Kic and me) is that we like different music. you like Nicholas Hooper’s score for HP6, but i think it is the worst HP sountrack ever. i respect that you like Hooper.
I like John Williams and think he should score HP7 ( he is actually hired as Composer), but you don’t like modern day JW. i think we should just be disagree about that 
KIC Reply:
August 9th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Well, I’ll have to a see a news confirmation from a real source over Wikipedia. Five films in just a couple of years is an insane amount of work. I do not see how it would be logistically possible to turn out quality work, to be frank, for any composer.
I have no problem envisioning the films with Doyle’s or Hooper’s work, and in fact I still feel they more accurately reflect the film footage. We will indeed have to agree to disagree.
harry gregson-williams.
Jorn Tillnes Reply:
November 3rd, 2009 at 5:35 am
It does say so on Wikipedia (Part 2 w/ Brian Tyler), but Wikipedia is sketchy at best. If it’s true, then wow… didn’t see that coming at all.
This is what stands on John williams wiki page:
Harry Potter producer David Heyman has stated that Williams might return as composer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows depending on Williams’s schedule.[12]
So it´s not clear yet, but im pretty sure he will do it, especially because Nicholas Hooper want him back himself.
Jorn Tillnes Reply:
November 10th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
It all depends on his Schedule like they said. He only does 1 movie every 2 or 3 years now, so I don’t know. I hope they announce it soon whoever it is. The suspense is killing me 
He is currently working on Tintin: Secrets of the Unicorn and he will most likely score the upcoming Steven Spielberg Sci-Fi Interstellar and two other movies i dont remember the name of,
so he has probably just taken a deserved pause.
The suspense is killing me to 
Jorn Tillnes Reply:
November 16th, 2009 at 8:33 am
Wow, how will he get Harry Potter in his schedule? Hope we will soon know for sure
Well, if John Williams won’t do it, another good option is Hans Zimmerman
Jorn Tillnes Reply:
December 8th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
I hope you don’t mean Zimmer! It would be a really strange turn of events. Sort of like Danny Elfman for Terminator Salvation… wait a minute!
I dearly hope that one of the greatest most experienced composers will do the seventh films justice… namely John Williams!
Game Music
Soundtrack Seek
Must have been quite the task. Predictions for the next composer?
Reply
Jorn Tillnes Reply:
July 17th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
The odds are good for John Williams. It seems he is wanted, but then again it is his schedule. He is getting old and he doesn’t do many projects anymore and Harry Potter is quite the task.
Reply