Paul McCartney Pens ‘Seven or Eight’ New Songs for Animated Film
Paul McCartney has penned seven or eight new songs for an upcoming animated feature he’s producing titled High in the Clouds, based on the children’s book McCartney co-authored in 2005. News of McCartney’s new music comes in a Deadline story about a troubled production company called RGH Entertainment that’s been tasked with creating a “sizzle reel” for High in the Clouds, which will also feature McCartney providing the voice for one of the film’s characters.
According to Deadline, one of the songs featured in High in the Clouds is a collaboration between McCartney and Lady Gaga. In February, Gaga hinted that she was working in the studio with McCartney on an unspecified project, Billboard reported.
“Had a beautiful session with Sir Paul McCartney and friends. Working on one of his many secret projects! Killer musicians, vibe, and lots of laughs,” Gaga wrote on Instagram. “Always a good time with my buddy. I’ll never forget when he called me last year to work and I hung up the phone cuz I thought it was a prank!” Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready happened to be one of the “killer musicians” who also took part in the sessions.
High in the Clouds will be helmed by Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 director Cody Cameron and penned by Date Night screenwriter Josh Klausner. No release date for the animated film or its soundtrack has been announced yet, but RGH plans on premiering their sizzle reel in November at the American Film Market in Santa Monica, California.
The High in the Clouds 3D feature film was formally announced in September 2013 (although it was in the works as far back as 2009) with a planned 2015 release date, Variety wrote. But things have shuffled a bit since it was greenlit, most notably the departure of Mulan director Tony Bancroft. McCartney also planned on providing a score for the film – his first time composing a complete film score since 1967’s The Family Way – but it’s unclear whether that is still the case.
“High in the Clouds is a passion project for me,” McCartney said in a statement at the time. “I am thrilled to be working in partnership with Randa Ayoubi and David Corbett at RGH, and David Michael Lynne and Bob Shaye of Unique Features. Working with the highly creative talent at these companies together with Josh Klausner and Tony Bancroft, we will be able to create a warm, funny and moving animated film that will resonate with worldwide audiences.”