Few names in modern film music carry the buzz that Ludwig Göransson does right now, and his next major project is already turning heads. He's scoring Christopher Nolan's ambitious The Odyssey — and the way he's putting the music together sounds less like a soundtrack session and more like a piece of musical archaeology.
Reviving the sound of Ancient Greece
For this soundscape, Göransson is reaching all the way back to Ancient Greece. He's working with old Greek instruments such as the aulos and the lyre, and he isn't taking their authenticity for granted: he's cross-referencing them against Ancient Greek artefacts to make sure the sounds stay true to the era they're meant to evoke.
To capture the 'Bronze Age' atmosphere of the story, he's also banging big bronze gongs. A behind-the-scenes featurette even shows Nolan himself having a go at the gongs, standing alongside cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema.
James Blake joins in, and talk of a third Oscar
Adding another layer to this unusual mix is electronic musician James Blake, whose involvement promises a striking collision of ancient instrumentation and modern sound. It's enough to spark an obvious question: could this score earn Göransson his third Best Score win at the Oscars?
That's not idle speculation, given his recent run. Last year's Sinners soundtrack brought him his second Oscar, after his first for Oppenheimer. This year he's already delivered the Mandalorian And Grogu soundtrack, which produced an instant favourite in the synth-heavy 'Shakari'.
A third round with Nolan
The Odyssey marks the third time Göransson has teamed up with Nolan, following their first collaboration on Tenet. Now the wait is on to see whether the pairing can land yet another memorable score — and audiences won't have to wait long. The Odyssey opens in cinemas on July 17, just over a month away.
