John Williams, Legendary Songwriter, Will Retire After Indiana Jones 5

John Williams, iconic Hollywood composer responsible for legendary soundtracks for Jurassic Park, Star Wars, Harry Potter and more, is set to retire after completing work on Indiana Jones 5, the fifth film in the franchise starring Harrison Ford directed by James Mangold.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Williams, at 90, spoke about retirement. “I’m currently working on Indiana Jones 5, which Harrison Ford – who is a little younger than I am – I think has announced what his last movie is going to be like. So I thought, if Harrison can do it, maybe I can too.”

It’s worth remembering how AP noted that Ford has yet to make such a public statement to stop working. Williams left room for a comeback, however, and told the outlet about not wanting to be seen as someone responsible for “categorically eliminating any activity” from his plans.

While the composer wants to move away from film scores, the five-time Oscar winner has stated how he will still be involved with music. He writes a piano concerto for Emanuel Axe following the release of A Gathering of Friends (2022) with cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Released on 20 May, the album consisted of cello concertos and new arrangements of the scores for Schindler’s List (1993), Lincoln (2012) and Munich (2005).

At the end of the interview, John Williams concluded with an optimistic statement about his future: “I would love to be around 100 years from now to see what people will do with film, sound and spatial, auditory and visual effects. It has a tremendous future, I think. I can feel a great possibility and a great future in the atmosphere of the whole experience. I would love to go back and see and hear it all.”

In 2023, Harrison Ford returns as the legendary #Indiana Jones. Check out this first look of the new James Mangold-directed film. pic.twitter.com/ALs82tsmXw

— Indiana Jones (@IndianaJones) May 26, 2022