Rob Simonsen gracefully joined a prestigious panel of esteemed composers at the vibrant San Diego Comic-Con, where he regaled attendees with tales of his exhilarating reunion with Ryan Reynolds and director Shawn Levy on Disney's highly anticipated superhero sequel. Drawing from his expertise as the maestro behind the scores of 'Deadpool & Wolverine,' Simonsen offered a captivating glimpse into the creative ethos that fueled his work on this Marvel masterpiece starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, set to captivate audiences worldwide this weekend.
During Thursday's engaging session, Simonsen was part of a star-studded ensemble of film and television composers, including Christopher Lennertz (The Boys), Leopold Ross (Shogun), Michael Abels (Star Wars: The Acolyte), and Sherri Chung (Found), all moderated by the legendary Michael Giacchino (The Batman). As Giacchino humorously queried if Simonsen felt the weight of the Marvel Cinematic Universe resting on his shoulders, the composer elegantly dismissed the notion, citing the unbreakable bond he forged with Reynolds and Levy on their 2022 Netflix hit, 'The Adam Project.'
"Marvel embraced Shawn and Ryan's vision wholeheartedly, and our recent collaboration on 'The Adam Project' fostered a camaraderie that seamlessly transitioned to 'Deadpool & Wolverine,'" enthused Simonsen, whose illustrious credits also encompass 'The Whale,' 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife,' and the upcoming 'It Ends With Us.' "I felt incredibly supported and sheltered from the perceived pressures, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the joy of creating."
Underscoring the film's exhilarating humor, Simonsen revealed, "My mission was simple: to infuse the music with the same carefree spirit that resonated throughout the production. Every day was a quest to ignite laughter within myself, knowing that the end result would mirror that infectious energy."
He further elaborated on how the film's irreverent tone liberated his creative process, "The stakes, though undeniably high, were mitigated by the freedom to have fun. The project offered a diverse palette, enabling us to soar with grand orchestral sweeps one moment and plunge into the absurdly whimsical the next. It was a canvas brimming with possibilities, and working on it was nothing short of exhilarating."
Amidst this creative odyssey, Simonsen shared an amusing anecdote, "Ironically, Shawn and I conducted the entire scoring process remotely, solely through Zoom and FaceTime. It's become our modus operandi, and even as we tackled what could be the summer's biggest blockbuster, receiving feedback via video call only added to the surreal yet exhilarating experience."
