Composer David Fleming: Superman, Wolverine & the Sound of Widow's Bay

David Fleming is the composer behind HBO's The Last of Us, James Gunn's Superman, and the upcoming Marvel's Wolverine from Insomniac Games. In this episode of Bonfire Conversations, he breaks down the score for Widow's Bay, his Emmy-nominated, Guillermo del Toro, praised work blending horror and comedy — including the hand-built sound design behind it (close-miked violins, conch shells, and vocals performed by his wife Monica).We also talk about scoring Marvel's Wolverine, what it's like following John Williams and Hans Zimmer on Superman, and his approach to creative risk, career defining moments, and his all time favorite film scores.🔔 Subscribe to Bonfire Conversations for more in depth conversations with the composers, writers, and artists behind your favorite films, shows, and games.Topics discussed: David Fleming composer interview, Widow's Bay score, Superman 2025 score, The Last of Us composer, Marvel's Wolverine game music, Hans Zimmer, John Williams, film scoring, video game music composer, Emmy nominationChapters:00:00 – Cold Open: Following Zimmer and Williams00:10 – Intro to David Fleming00:55 – Third Time's the Charm: The Story Behind This Interview02:02 – Childhood Influences04:42 – The "Big Break" Myth and Landing The Last of Us07:45 – Discovering Widow's Bay Through Guillermo del Toro08:43 – Finding the Tone with Creator Katie Dippold12:50 – Inside the Sound Design15:17 – Penny for Your Thoughts: Rapid-Fire Round15:35 – Favorite Sampler & Studio Tools16:41 – The Most Useful Creative Constraint18:38 – Advice From an Early Mentor19:39 – A Creative Risk That Paid Off21:25 – What Makes a Theme Memorable22:50 – Breaking News: Scoring Marvel's Wolverine26:23 – Following John Williams and Hans Zimmer on Superman28:00 – David's Five Favorite Films30:58 – David's Five Favorite Scores32:08 – Dream Projects and Directors He Wants to Work With33:55 – Closing Thoughts & Emmy Nomination#DavidFleming #WidowsBay #Superman #TheLastOfUs #MarvelsWolverine #FilmScore #Composer