Jóhann Jóhannsson Provides Uplifting Score to Stephen Hawking Biopic THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING World Premiere @ TIFF @ 6pm Sunday, September 7, 2014

Hollywood, CA/Toronto, ON, September 7, 2014 - Composer Jóhann Jóhannsson scores Focus Features’ The Theory of Everything, directed by James Marsh. Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Sunday, September 7, The Theory of Everything is one of the most anticipated releases of the storied festival. Starring Felicity Jones, Eddie Redmayne and Emily Watson, The Theory of Everything centers on the relationship between physicist Stephen Hawking and Jane Wilde, the arts student he fell in love with while at Cambridge in the 1960s. The Theory of Everything was inspired by Jane Hawking's 2007 memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen. The film opens wide November 7, 2014.

 

The film boasts a beautifully poignant score by Jóhannsson depicting the ups and downs of their love story as Hawking faces a virtual death sentence from ALS. Jóhannsson’s score includes his signature blend of acoustic instruments and electronics. A keystone composer in the modern classical movement, Jóhannsson is distinguished by his ability to create soundscapes by electronically manipulating orchestral instrumentation, with an emotional range that spans from inspirational to harrowing. Jóhannsson explains, “It always involves the layers of live recordings, whether it’s orchestra or a band or solo instrument, with electronics and more soundscape-y elements which can come from various sources.”

 

Jóhann Jóhannsson was named a Top 12 Film Composer “On The Rise” in 2014 by Indiewire this month. Jóhannsson began his career composing for theater, so transitioning into film was a natural progression, as well as his involvement in scoring experimental video art projects. Jóhannsson compositions have been released through the legendary label 4AD, including IBM 1401: A User’s manual, an album composed of the sounds of an old mainframe computer. Jóhannsson’s previous film credits include last year’s critically acclaimed thriller Prisoners, starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal, as well as the crime drama McCanick starring David Morse and Cory Monteith’s final appearance in a feature film. Other recent projects include the indie drama I Am Here, starring Kim Basinger. He is currently scoring the crime drama Sicario, starring Emily Blunt and Benicio Del Toro, in theaters 2015. 

*TIFF screenings of The Theory of Everything: Sunday, September 7, 6:00 PM – Princess of Wales (World Premiere); and Monday, September 8, 3:00 PM - Princess of Wales