David Byrne has expressed his enthusiasm about composing music for the upcoming animated film, The Twits, based on the classic children’s book by Roald Dahl. The film, set to be released on October 17, 2023, on Netflix, features a collaboration between Byrne, the renowned Talking Heads musician, and singer-songwriter Hayley Williams.
Byrne described the project as “fun” while discussing it with Variety. He noted that like many of Dahl’s works, The Twits delves into the concept of dreadful characters, specifically focusing on the antagonistic duo, Mr. and Mrs. Twit. “Kids (and adults) love that they can vicariously imagine their own worst impulses played out, harmlessly, in a punky fun story,” he stated. This perspective helped to inspire his contributions to the film.
In addition to providing the original score, Byrne has written and produced three songs for the film: “We’re Not Like Ev’ryone Else,” “Lullaby,” and “The Problem Is You,” all performed by the film’s cast. He also collaborated with Williams on the end credits track, “Open the Door.” Their history of working together includes contributions to Byrne’s upcoming album, Who Is the Sky?, and past song covers.
Byrne specifically reached out to Williams for this project. He mentioned that she was inspired by the story and contributed lyric ideas. Williams shared her excitement in a joint interview with Byrne, calling her involvement in the film a series of “pinch-me moments.” She recalled that The Twits was her favorite Dahl book growing up, adding, “I’m drawn to learning about twisted characters like Mr. and Mrs. Twit and the Wormwoods from Matilda.”
The film is directed by Phil Johnston, who has worked alongside co-writer Meg Favreau to bring this adaptation to life. It follows the mean-spirited Twits in their battle against two brave children and a family of magical Muggle-Wumps, described as “the meanest, smelliest, nastiest people on the face of the earth.”
The voice cast is impressive, featuring talents such as Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Ryan Lopez, Timothy Simons, Nicole Byer, Jason Mantzoukas, Alan Tudyk, Mark Proksch, Rebecca Wisocky, and Charlie Berens. Notable actors Johnny Vegas and Margo Martindale lend their voices to the Twits, alongside Emilia Clarke and Natalie Portman.
Johnston expressed his admiration for Byrne, saying, “I still can’t quite believe that I spent the last few years collaborating with David Byrne, a musical hero of mine since I was 13.” He recalled the first demo Byrne sent, featuring a 100-year-old banjolele, which set the tone for their collaboration. When discussing the end credit song, Johnston immediately agreed to Williams as a potential collaborator, emphasizing his excitement for the project.
With its blend of creative talent and beloved source material, The Twits is shaping up to be a highly anticipated release this autumn. As Byrne and Williams continue to work together, their contributions promise to enrich the film’s narrative and musical landscape, appealing to audiences of all ages.
