Although Hans Zimmer and his legal team vehemently denied the claims, the esteemed composer did not necessarily deny Holst’s influence. In the “Gladiator” CD liner notes, he states that “The Battle” and “Mars, the Bringer of War” both use “the same language, the same vocabulary, if not the same syntax” (via Montreal Gazette) as Holst’s work. Another track from “Gladiator,” “Barbarian Horde,” also reprises many of the same musical themes. Listening to the tracks back-to-back, the similarities are definitely there, but it seems to be a stretch to accuse Zimmer of theft. All of the songs are characterized by thunderous drums and deep brass that feel angry and overpowering, kindling the themes of military might and violence. However, Zimmer’s compositions are slightly more fast-paced and, at points, have quite different melodies.
The resolution of the “Gladiator” lawsuit was settled privately with undisclosed terms (via Montreal Gazette). Although we’ll never know the exact verdict, we can use this case to think about the thin line between inspiration and plagiarism in art. Hans Zimmer is arguably more prone to self-plagiarism than directly stealing from other composers; echoes of the “Gladiator” score can be traced back to “This Land” from “The Lion King” or appearing again in “Pirates of the Caribbean.” You can listen to the songs for yourself and decide how closely you believe Zimmer’s “Gladiator” score was inspired by Holst or appropriating his work.