Score That Could Have Been

Let’s get one thing straight: whether you think The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a glorious comeback for Marvel or just another blah superhero flick, there’s a universal truth we can all high-five about. The score, crafted by the musical genius Michael Giacchino, is nothing short of spectacular—one of the highlights in his illustrious career!

The Plot Twist in Music

But hold your applause, because Giacchino himself has revealed a jaw-dropper: he actually penned a *totally different score* for this film that we may never hear. Yup, he spilled the beans at a Deadline panel, saying, “I wrote a whole other score for this film that you probably won’t ever hear.” Intrigued, right? He had it all set until he paired the original music with the visual magic of First Steps and suddenly, something felt off.

When Even Giacchino Can’t Score a Win

It’s kind of mind-boggling that anyone—even our beloved Giacchino—would think his score might not fit. This guy has made a name for himself over three decades! We’re talking about the brains behind unforgettable soundtracks for games and shows, like the original The Lion King video game, the series Alias, and blockbuster films like Star Trek and The Batman. He even dipped his toes into directing with the spooky Marvel special Werewolf by Night.

Reshaping Sounds in Motion

Clearly, Giacchino’s knack for nailing a project’s vibe pushed him to ax the initial Fantastic Four score. He dove back in and composed fresh themes after being approached by Marvel’s Kevin Feige to whip up a teaser for SDCC. He even created motifs for heavyweights like Galactus and the Silver Surfer—only to find out that the music didn’t mesh well because it was drafted before director Matt Shakman started rolling the cameras!

Creativity in Collaboration

Frustrating? Absolutely! But not just Giacchino was ready to shake things up for the art of filmmaking. His first crack at the score inadvertently helped solidify Shakman’s vision for the film. “What was really fun was Matt took that to the set,” Giacchino reminisced. “It was helpful to them to figure out, oh, that’s the movie we’re making. This is the tone. It’s so rare to do that. Anyone making movies should hire the composer first and then have them write their suite. That way, everyone’s on the same wavelength from day one!” Talk about wisdom!

Embracing the Chaos

For Giacchino, this creative back-and-forth is just part of the wild ride of filmmaking. “Movies are the greatest group art form out there!” he stated. And as if that’s not exciting enough, he plans to flex those directing muscles again, this time with a project over at Warner Bros! “I can’t wait to share more about that,” he teased.

A Treasure Trove of Tunes

While we’re chomping at the bit to hear who will score for his WB project, it’s pretty comforting to know that if he ever needs a backup, he’s got a score stashed away that could step in at a moment’s notice!

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now streaming on Disney+.