Musique Fantastique

December 1, 2023

New Varèse Sarabande Releases for December Showcase Expanded Scores for SERENITY and PLEASANTVILLE

SERENITY (2005) was the feature film sequel of Joss Whedon’s short-lived space-western TV series, FIREFLY (2002–03). When fans lamented the loss of the canceled show, Universal rescued the titular spaceship and its charismatic crew (including Nathan Fillion, Morena Baccarin and Alan Tudyk) for a big-screen adventure written and directed by Whedon.

Scoring SERENITY was David Newman, whose vast and diverse filmography lent him well-prepared for anything the film might throw at him. From worldbuilding to character comedy to harrowing action, the score runs the gamut—but always hews to a sense of family and “home” for the SERENITY and her offbeat crew. Solo cello and folksy percussion are found alongside eerie “ethnic” approaches, which turn dark and brutal for the barbaric villains, the Reavers, as the film explores their secret origin. But Newman balances the weirdness with familiar, dramatic orchestral scoring, ultimately creating an eclectic tapestry for Whedon’s unique vision.

Varèse Sarabande’s 2005 soundtrack CD for SERENITY was released as a 23-track, 50-minute program. This new Deluxe Edition expands the album into a 2CD set, with 54 tracks featuring 90 minutes of prime David Newman sci-fi action, adventure, and emotion, as chronicled in new liner notes by Daniel Schweiger.

Coming alongside the new SERENITY soundtrack is Randy Newman’s score to PLEASANTVILLE (1998), the high-concept fantasy-comedy about high-school siblings (Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon) transported into an idyllic, black-and-white 1950s Leave It to Beaver-type TV show. In the hands of writer/director Gary Ross, the film is more than just a fish-out-of-water tale with dazzling VFX—it is a touching character study and potent Civil Rights allegory that received critical acclaim and is fondly remembered today.

Scoring PLEASANTVILLE, Newman had cheeky fun with the show-within-the-film’s old-school traditions, but just as the story blossoms into a heartfelt tale of emotional awakening—with a beautiful performance by Joan Allen as a repressed mother—so does the gorgeous score.

“Randy is unique in the fact that he can write with a depth of emotion, and he’s also an accomplished satirist,” says Gary Ross in the new liner notes by Tim Greiving. “He could write to the vernacular of what the movie was, but not be limited by it. That’s what the film is trying to do, and it really needs someone who can understand the breadth of those intentions… I’ve never been happier with any score, on any movie.”

Varèse Sarabande released PLEASANTVILLE’S score album in 1998 as a 17-track, 31-minute edition. As the film celebrates its 25th anniversary, this Deluxe Edition features an expanded program of 34 tracks and 66 minutes.

Both soundtracks are expected to ship the week of December 15, 2023.

See more details at Varèse Sarabande.

Watch the SERENITY and PLEASANTVILLE trailers, below: