David Fleming (composer)

David Fleming
OriginNew York, United States
GenresFilm and television scores, jazz, electronic, rock, ambient
OccupationFilm composer
InstrumentsPiano, keyboards, synthesizer, guitar
Years active2012–present
Websitewww.davidflemingmusic.com

David Fleming is an American composer for films, television, and interactive media. He is known for collaborating with various Remote Control Productions composers including Hans Zimmer, Atli Örvarsson, Lorne Balfe, Steve Jablonsky and Tom Holkenborg. In 2024, he won the ASCAP Screen Music Award for Television Score of the Year for his work on HBO's The Last of Us with Gustavo Santaolalla. He is also known for scoring films and series such as Blue Planet II, Hillbilly Elegy, Americana, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Damsel, The Alto Knights and Superman.

Career

Early career

David Fleming studied musical composition at State University of New York at Purchase. From there, he started his career in New York advertising companies, creating music for ringtones and liquor commercials. He won the BMI Foundation's Pete Carpenter Fellowship and moved to Los Angeles where he began writing music for major films.[1]

2017–present

In 2017, Fleming co-composed the BBC series Blue Planet II (2017) alongside Hans Zimmer, starting a collaborative relationship that saw Fleming contribute to films like The Lion King (2019), Dune (2021), and Top Gun: Maverick (2022), and co-compose films together such as Hillbilly Elegy, The Unforgivable, and The Night Logan Woke Up.[2] Their work on Blue Planet II earned the score award nominations with the Jerry Goldsmith Awards and the International Film Music Critics Awards.[3][4]

Fleming co-composed the original score for the television series The Last of Us (2023–present) with Gustavo Santaolalla. Fleming's work was inspired by real-world sounds within a decayed civilization.[5] He largely worked on action-heavy music for the series, such as a large action sequence in the fifth episode. Like Santaolalla, he wanted to keep his score minimalistic and exercised restraint to match series co-creator Craig Mazin's goal of "having the viewer feel that they're part of the scene rather than be observing the scene".[6] He selected specific instruments that paired appropriately with Santaolalla's work; rather than using a generic drum, he wanted one with "personality, whether it be a rusty barrel or like cracking wood or bowing, rusty metal".[6]

In 2024, Fleming scored projects including Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Jim Henson Idea Man, for which he was nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series and Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special, respectively.[7] On June 7, 2024, Fleming performed his work to Mr. & Mrs. Smith at the Deadline Sound & Screen TV Event at Royce Hall at UCLA. Lead actor Donald Glover guided Fleming's score to focus on trust and the relationship between the characters.[8] For Jim Henson Idea Man, Fleming wanted to carry the spirit of Jim Henson through the score.[9] He also composed music for the film Damsel (2024).[10]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Director(s) Notes Ref.
2012Revenge for Jolly!Chadd Harbold
2015The Perfect GuyDavid M. RosenthalComposed with Atli Örvarsson
2020Hillbilly ElegyRon HowardComposed with Hans Zimmer[11]
2021South of HeavenAharon Keshales
The UnforgivableNora FingscheidtComposed with Hans Zimmer[12]
2023AmericanaTony Tost[13]
2024DamselJuan Carlos Fresnadillo[10]
Jim Henson Idea ManRon Howard[14]
Bando Stone and the New WorldDonald Glover[15]
2025The Alto KnightsBarry Levinson[16]
SupermanJames GunnComposed with John Murphy
Includes "Superman March" composed by John Williams		[17]
EternityDavid Freyne[18]
AnacondaTom Gormican
2027Man of TomorrowJames GunnPost-production[19][20]

Television

Year Title Notes Ref.
2017 Blue Planet II 7 episodes
2022 The Night Logan Woke Up 5 episodes; with Hans Zimmer [21]
2023–present The Last of Us 16 episodes; with Gustavo Santaolalla [5]
2024 Mr. & Mrs. Smith 8 episodes [22]
2026 Widow's Bay 10 episodes [23]

Video games

Year Title Notes Ref.
2026 Marvel's Wolverine [24]

Other credits

Year Title Role Composer(s)
2012–2023Chicago Fireadditional musicAtli Örvarsson
2013Hansel & Gretel: Witch Huntersadditional musicAtli Örvarsson
A Single Shotadditional musicAtli Örvarsson
Evidenceadditional musicAtli Örvarsson
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bonesadditional musicAtli Örvarsson
2014–2015Chicago P.D.additional musicAtli Örvarsson
2014Son of Godadditional musicHans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe
Divergentadditional musicTom Holkenborg
Transformers: Age of Extinctionadditional musicSteve Jablonsky
2015Last Knightsadditional musicSatnam Ramgotra and Martin Tillman
2016Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadowsadditional musicSteve Jablonsky
2017Transformers: The Last Knightadditional musicSteve Jablonsky
What Happened to Mondayadditional musicChristian Wibe
2018Believeradditional musicHans Zimmer
2019Dark Phoenixadditional musicHans Zimmer
The Lion KingArranger "Never Too Late", producer "Be Prepared"Hans Zimmer
2020Wonder Woman 1984additional musicHans Zimmer
2021Dune: Part Oneadditional musicHans Zimmer
2022Top Gun: Maverickadditional musicHarold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga and Hans Zimmer
The Sonadditional musicHans Zimmer
2023Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.additional musicHans Zimmer
2024Dune: Part Twoadditional musicHans Zimmer

Awards and nominations

Accolades
Award Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
IFMCA Awards 2017 Best Original Score for a Documentary Film Blue Planet II Nominated [3]
Jerry Goldsmith Awards 2018 Best Documentary Score Nominated [4]
ASCAP Screen Music Awards 2024 Composers' Choice: Television Score of the Year The Last of Us Won [25]
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2024 Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) Mr. & Mrs. Smith (for "First Date") Nominated [26]
Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score) Jim Henson Idea Man Won
2026 Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) Widow's Bay (for "Our History") Pending
Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2024 Best Original Score in a Documentary Jim Henson Idea Man Nominated [27]

References

  1. ↑ Palrowitz, Darren (February 2, 2024). "Composer David Fleming On "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," Hans Zimmer & More — "Paltrocast" Exclusive". Medium.com.
  2. ↑ "Sundance 2023 Composer Spotlight: David Fleming". ASCAP.com. January 1, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "2017 IFMCA Awards". February 6, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "XIII Jerry Goldsmith Awards – Winners".
  5. 1 2 Minsker, Evan (February 27, 2023). "HBO's New The Last of Us Season 1 Soundtrack Released: Listen". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Shachat, Sarah (March 14, 2023). "'The Last of Us' Score Finds Meaning in Silence". IndieWire. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  7. ↑ Burlingame, Jon (July 17, 2024). "Creative Arts Emmys Music Nominations: Hans Zimmer Lands Three Nods, Pasek & Paul Inch Closer to EGOT". Variety. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  8. ↑ Jackson, Destiny (June 10, 2024). "'Mr. & Mrs. Smith's David Fleming Says Just One Word Became Foundation For Series' Musical Theme – Sound & Screen TV". Deadline.com.
  9. ↑ Richlin, Harrison (May 29, 2024). "Watch Ron Howard and Team Behind 'Jim Henson Idea Man' Discuss the 'Genius' Behind 'The Muppets' and 'Sesame Street'". Indiewire.com.
  10. 1 2 Danoff, Owen (March 21, 2024). "Damsel Composer David Fleming On Medieval Horns, Dragons & Dune Memes". Screen Rant. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  11. ↑ Roxborough, Scott (December 11, 2020). "Hans Zimmer and David Fleming on Scoring 'Hillbilly Elegy' Under Lockdown (and After Zimmer Caught COVID-19)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Hans Zimmer & David Fleming Scoring Nora Fingscheidt's 'The Unforgivable'". Film Music Reporter. October 26, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  13. ↑ "David Fleming Scoring Tony Tost's 'Americana'". Film Music Reporter. March 15, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  14. ↑ "David Fleming Scoring Ron Howard's Disney+ Documentary 'Jim Henson Idea Man'". Film Music Reporter. April 11, 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  15. ↑ Magat, Katrina (July 14, 2024). "7 Things Things You Need To Know About Childish Gambino's Mysterious IMAX Movie, 'Bando Stone and the New World'". Collider. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  16. ↑ "David Fleming to Score Barry Levinson's 'Alto Knights'". Film Music Reporter. February 6, 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  17. ↑ "David Fleming to Compose Music for James Gunn's 'Superman'". Film Music Reporter. April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  18. ↑ "David Fleming Scoring David Freyne's 'Eternity'". Film Music Reporter. March 17, 2025. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  19. ↑ "David Fleming to Reteam with James Gunn on DC Studios' 'Man of Tomorrow'". Film Music Reporter. April 14, 2026. Archived from the original on April 14, 2026. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  20. ↑ Tinoco, Armando (August 26, 2026). "'Superman' Sequel 'Man Of Tomorrow' Wraps Filming: "Truly A Joyful Experience"". Deadline. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  21. ↑ "'The Night Logan Woke Up' Soundtrack Album Details". Film Music Reporter. March 16, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  22. ↑ Jackson, Destiny (June 10, 2024). "'Mr. & Mrs. Smith's David Fleming Says Just One Word Became Foundation For Series' Musical Theme – Sound & Screen TV". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  23. ↑ "David Fleming Scoring Apple TV's 'Widow's Bay'". Film Music Reporter. April 2, 2026.
  24. ↑ Manager, Aaron Jason Espinoza Senior Community; Games, Insomniac (July 23, 2026). "Marvel's Wolverine: Story Trailer, new art, composer details, and more". PlayStation.Blog. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  25. ↑ Burlingame, Jon (May 9, 2024). "Scores for 'Spider-Man,' 'Last of Us,' 'Only Murders' Win the Composers' Choice Vote at ASCAP Screen Music Awards". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  26. ↑ "David Fleming". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  27. ↑ "2024 HMMA Nominations". Hollywood Music in Media Awards. November 7, 2024. Archived from the original on November 8, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
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