Hans Zimmer explains why the Pirates of the Caribbean music is so big and epic. The German film composer is one of the most innovative and iconic working today, with his earlier film compositions ranging from The Lion King, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Original Score in 1995, to Gladiator. Zimmer soon followed up that success by composing the iconic theme song and original score for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and returned for many of the sequels.
During a recent interview on 60 Minutes, Hans Zimmer explained why the music that introduces Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl sounds so big.
Beginning as a jaunty little tune before exploding into an epic orchestral arrangement, the composer explains that the score is meant to contrast the tiny row boat Captain Jack Sparrow is sailing during his initial introduction because that’s the music the swashbuckling pirate hears in his head. Read Zimmer’s full explanation below:
The music is really big. He’s in a little row boat with a little sail and you hear this huge orchestra because that’s the music he hears in his head because he’s the greatest pirate that has ever lived in his imagination.
Why The First Pirates Of The Caribbean Movie Was So Successful
Based on Disney’s theme park ride, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was released in 2003 and went on to become one of Disney’s most successful live-action franchises outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars. At the time, the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie was the first PG-13 film ever produced until the Walt Disney Pictures label. Like the theme park attraction, the Pirates of the Caribbean movies struck the perfect balance between good old-fashioned Disney fun and swashbuckling pirate adventures, with a larger-than-life lead in Jack Sparrow who is equal parts humorous and heroic.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was an incredible critical and commercial success, grossing $654 million worldwide while also earning five Academy Award nominations. This included a Best Actor nomination for Johnny Depp, whose portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow became beloved and for many, the reason why the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie and the franchise as a whole, was so successful. Hans Zimmer’s swashbuckling score, which perfectly complements the character’s bravado, has also defined the sound that permeates the Pirates franchise.
What’s Next For The POTC Franchise?
After the original trilogy, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise received two more installments, On Stranger Tides and Dead Men Tell No Tales, which were not as well-received and largely forgotten. This, coupled with Amber Heard’s allegations of domestic abuse against Johnny Depp, is why Disney plans to reboot the franchise. There are currently two Pirates of the Caribbean reboots in development – one written by franchise veteran Ted Elliott and Chernobyl‘s Craig Mazin, and another female-led spinoff with Margot Robbie attached to star with Birds of Prey‘s Christina Hodson writing script. Both of these reboots have made little progress since they were announced, rendering the future of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise uncertain.
Source: 60 Minutes