John Williams confirms first non-Spielberg score in 8 years

13 August 2013, 10:46 | Updated: 14 August 2013, 10:28

John Williams will score the film adaptation of Markus Zusak's novel The Book Thief, directed by Brian Percival.

The new soundtrack will be the first that Williams has composed for a project not directed by Steven Spielberg since 2005's Memoirs of a Geisha (directed by Rob Marshall).

The Book Thief tells the story of a young girl in Nazi Germany who steals books to escape from the world around her, while her family shelters a Jewish refugee in their home. It stars Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson as the girl's parents, while unknown Frecnh-Canadian actress Sophie Nélisse will play the young girl.

According to a post on Williams' publisher's Facebook page, the soundtrack is at the proofing stage. The film is due for release in November 2013, meaning fans will be able to enjoy a new John Williams score before the end of the year, and in time for Academy Award consideration.

Williams is also currently attached to another non-Spielberg project, the new Star Wars sequels, the first of which is due for release in 2015.