The Dark Knight Rises: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is now available for pre-order on Amazon and iTunes and is scheduled for release on July 17, mere days before the highly anticipated conclusion to Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy hits theaters.
Hans Zimmer has once again partnered with Nolan, marking the fourth time the two have collaborated. In addition to the Batman films, they also joined forces for Inception. “I thought after we finished the last one [The Dark Knight], that was it,” said Zimmer. “There was nothing else we could possibly do. At the same time, when I started reading this script, I instantly knew that there was a whole world out there that I hadn’t even touched yet.”
He adds, “We’re comrades in arms, the way we try to cheer each other on and try to really do the best work we possibly can. And part of that is you have to be prepared to not hold back. You have to put everything into the movie.”
“I have never worked with someone so dedicated to the idea that the real risk is in playing it safe,” said Nolan. “Hans taught me that you sometimes have to go in what appears to be the wrong direction to discover all the possibilities, and that without exploring those possibilities you can never do anything truly exceptional. He sets creative goals for every film that are higher than you ever thought practical…or even reachable.”
The CD version of the soundtrack will have an exclusive link to unlock 3 bonus tracks, and a deluxe of the soundtrack, with three additional tracks, will be available digitally. A limited edition vinyl configuration will be available beginning September 4.
Zimmer will also unveil a new iPhone app, which will provide fans “with a more immersive musical and sonic experience into the world of Gotham City.”
Hans Zimmer’s distinctive style and exceptional talent has earned him an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, three Grammys, an American Music Award, and a Tony Award. Several awards were a result of his incredible score to Disney’s The Lion King, which is probably the first time I ever heard of him. Since then, I’ve added his Gladiator and Pearl Harbor to some of my favorite soundtracks.
He has scored over 100 films that have grossed more than 19.6 billion worldwide, and his recent works include Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and Rob Marshall’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
And, as an extra special bonus to you wonderful readers, I’m sharing that Empire has the entire soundtrack online. I have perused the track listing, and I did not see anything I’d consider spoilery, but proceed at your own risk.