Composers Max Aruj and Alfie Godfrey Join the Legacy in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Few instrumental themes are as famous, instantly recognizable, and oft-parodied like that of the main titles from Mission: Impossible. The original film was released in 1996, but few remember that the Tom Cruise-led film was not the first to tell the story of Ethan Hunt. The classic theme goes back to the Mission: Impossible television series of the 1960s. That recognizable theme was composed by Lalo Schifrin and has been updated for every new iteration of the franchise. When it comes to Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, two new composers, Max Aruj and Alfie Godfrey, were given their chance to make their mark on the Mission: Impossible legacy.
Max Aruj and Alfie Godfrey sat down with Film Obsessive News Editor Tina Kakadelis to discuss the duo’s shared experiences under Lorne Balfe (composer of two past Mission: Impossible installments), the pressure of tackling the iconic theme, and the odd instrument that unlocked a key sequence in the score. This transcript has been edited for length and clarity.