As iconic as the movie itself, John Williams’ scores for the Star Wars movies are as much a part of the series’ fandom as the characters and stories. The Oscar-winning composer returned to the series’ sci-fi universe for the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens and now Walt Disney Records has announced the release date for his much-anticipated soundtrack to the film.

Like the film itself, the Star Wars: The Force Awakens soundtrack will be released December 18, offering fans the opportunity to take home the music from the film on the same day it hits theaters.

A five-time winner of the Academy Award for the year’s best film score, Williams has also won four Golden Globe Awards, seven British Academy Film Awards, and 22 Grammy Awards. His tuxedo gets a lot of wear. He currently ranks just behind Walt Disney as the second-most nominated individual in the history of the Academy Awards with 49 nominations in the last 48 years. His tuxedo gets a lot of wear.

Williams earned his first Academy Award in 1971 for the score to Norman Jewison’s adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof, and it was followed by Academy Award wins in 1975 for Jaws, 1977 for the very first Star Wars, 1982 for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and 1993 for Schindler’s List. He was most recently nominated for composing the score to director Brian Percival’s 2013 drama The Book Thief.

Set 30 years after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens introduces a new set of heroes and villains to the Star Wars universe, while also bringing back a long list of fan-favorite characters from the previous films. The film stars returning cast members Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker, as well as newcomers John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Max von Sydow, Lupita Nyong’o, Gwendoline Christie, Crystal Clarke, Pip Anderson, Christina Chong, and Miltos Yerolemou.

You can pre-order the Star Wars: The Force Awakens soundtrack at the Walt Disney Records online shop.

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