Ahead of the arrival of "Avatar: The Way of Water" on the big screen, Simon Franglen spoke with Variety about his work composing for it. He notes that when he signed on to score the sequel in 2017, he went on to keep much of the late James Horner's team together. Franglen also got to have some fun designing new instruments that come from Pandora: the lush homeworld of the Na'vi that's central to the "Avatar" franchise. "One of the unexpected delights was being able to design unique Pandoran musical instruments for the film, then having the prop department bring them into reality," he said.
Continuing, Franglen notes that he's made it a priority to innovate the "Way of Water" score in numerous ways — especially when it comes to his musical depiction of water itself. "The scintillation of light, the ebb and flow of waves, and the connection of the Na'vi with the water were all inspirations," he explains, mentioning that this project has allowed him to work with a range of performers from around the world to craft a diverse musical tapestry. Franglen names the London, England-based Tenebrae Choir and a chorus from the Pacific Islands as contributors to this endeavor.
We know that the visuals of "Avatar: The Way of Water" will be breathtaking, and as evidenced by Simon Franglen's comments, it seems that the score will be just as incredible. The film opens on December 16, 2022.
