More behind-the-scenes trouble with The Wolf Man, Universal’s much-delayed horror project starring Benicio del Toro? Sure sounds like it.

According to Cinemusic, Danny Elfman, known for the operatic scores of films like Batman, is out as composer of The Wolf Man. He has been replaced by Paul Halsinger, who was part of the 80’s synth-rock group Tangerine Dream. Halsinger composed the scores for the films Underworld, Crank, and Death Race.

It sounds like the latest setback for the project, which has been pushed back four times since its original November 12, 2008 release date. Universal shifted The Wolf Man to February 12, 2009, then April 3, 2009, followed by a move to November 6, 2009. Now it’s due to come out on February 12, 2010, hopefully taking advantage of a good weekend for horror films in recent years.

Joe Johnston, director of The Wolf Man, had been enthusiastic about potentially hiring Elfman as his composer. In a 2008 interview, he said: "If Danny Elfman does do it, I’m going to basically just let him run loose. I’m going to run the movie for him without music and without the temp track and say, 'Do what you have never done before and see what comes out of it.'"

"I think he’s fantastic. I can still listen to his score for Beetlejuice."

It’s uncertain just why Elfman departed the project, but the latest trailer employs more rock-sounding music, possibly indicating the film’s new direction. Elfman had reportedly written and recorded a grandly gothic score for The Wolf Man, none of which will likely end up in the finished film. (Although thanks to the Internet, there is still hope it could end up on iPods someday.)