The news came, as these things often do, over Twitter. Todd VanDerWerff, a TV critic at The A.V. Club, gave the word from the Television Critics Press Tour, where Crowe was promoting his music documentary "Pearl Jam Twenty," Playlist reported:
Frontman of Icelandic band Sigur Ros, Jonsi's ambient style is a natural fit for film. Sigur Ros' music has been featured in films including "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou," "The Girl in the Cafe," "Penelope," and in the trailers for "Children of Men" and "Slumdog Millionaire."
Also, it won't be the first time Jonsi has collaborated with Crowe -- the band's tracks, "Svefn-G-Englar," "Agaetis Byrjun,” and a live version of “ Njósnavélin" (or "Untitled 4") were featured on the "Vanilla Sky" soundtrack.
Crowe -- who has often made music the subject of his films ("Almost Famous," "Pearl Jam Twenty") -- is known for taking care with his soundtracks. The defining scene from "Say Anything" features Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" blasting out of John Cusack's boombox, the "Tiny Dancer" singalong in "Almost Famous" captures the mood more than words alone could, and even the "Elizabethtown" soundtrack is nothing to scoff at.
Late last year, Matt Damon, who stars in the film, told MTV that the script came with music notes, from Eddie Vedder to Neil Young, leading to speculation that they would be scoring the film. But just last week, Crowe shot that down, saying that while they listened to those artists during filming, it didn't meant they would be scoring in the film.
The film's title, "We Bought a Zoo," is self-explanatory -- it follows Mee (Matt Damon), who moves his family to the countryside to revive a foreclosed zoo after his wife passes away. The film, which is billed as a comedy drama, has a star-heavy cast including Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Angus MacFadyen and Elle Fanning. It's set to release Dec. 23, 2011.
LISTEN to Sigur Ros' "Scefn-G-Englar," which was featured in "Vanilla Sky":