Convention - SDCC 2026: Michael Dean Parsons Explores the Art Behind Modern Film and Television Scores

By Mulder, San Diego, Hilton San Diego Bayfront, salle Indigo 204A, 23 july 2026

While blockbuster franchises and exclusive footage often dominate the headlines at San Diego Comic-Con, one of the convention's most rewarding traditions continues to be its celebration of film music. Following our coverage of The 12th Annual Musical Anatomy of a Superhero and Other Heroes panel, Mulderville was invited to participate in the exclusive press roundtable with composer Michael Dean Parsons. Continuing a tradition that has now lasted a decade, Mulderville was once again the only French media outlet present for this intimate discussion, offering a rare opportunity to hear one of Hollywood's fastest-rising composers reflect on a career that has quietly expanded across some of the industry's most prestigious productions.

Far from fitting the stereotype of the blockbuster composer, Michael Dean Parsons represents a new generation of musicians whose careers flow naturally between concert halls, streaming series and major studio features. A graduate of The Juilliard School, where he studied under Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Christopher Rouse, Parsons has built an unusually diverse résumé that bridges contemporary classical composition with Hollywood filmmaking. His orchestral works have been performed by the New York Philharmonic and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra at iconic venues including David Geffen Hall and Carnegie Hall, a background that continues to shape the sophistication of his cinematic writing.

The timing of the Comic-Con roundtable could hardly have been more appropriate. Parsons has just reached a new milestone through his collaboration with longtime creative partner Kris Bowers on the music for Spider-Noir, the MGM+ and Prime Video live-action Marvel series starring Nicolas Cage. The eight-episode production embraces both superhero spectacle and classic detective noir, an unusual combination reflected in a score that blends traditional orchestral writing with the emotional restraint and harmonic language associated with classic film noir. The series itself was conceived to exist in both black-and-white and color versions, an ambitious creative decision mirrored by a musical approach designed to support two distinct visual experiences while preserving a unified emotional identity.

During the discussion, one of the most striking aspects of Michael Dean Parsons' personality was the absence of any desire to separate prestige projects from commercial entertainment. Whether discussing Marvel superheroes, historical dramas or documentaries, he repeatedly described music as storytelling first and foremost. That philosophy explains why his career has developed less through headline-grabbing solo projects than through trusted creative partnerships. His collaboration with Kris Bowers has become particularly significant, extending well beyond Spider-Noir. Together they co-wrote the memorable main title theme for Bridgerton, work that earned them a Primetime Emmy nomination, while Parsons has also contributed to projects including Queen Charlotte, Secret Invasion and numerous productions where his musical voice enhances an already established creative vision.

That collaborative spirit has equally defined his feature film work. Rather than pursuing authorship at all costs, Parsons has become one of the industry's most respected creative partners, composing alongside James Newton Howard on David Yates' Pain Hustlers, scoring Takashi Doscher's Only, contributing additional music to the Academy Award-nominated score of The Wild Robot, and participating in productions such as King Richard and The Lost Bus. Behind the scenes, he has also served as score producer on major studio productions including Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, responsibilities requiring both artistic sensitivity and technical precision.

One anecdotal impression emerging from the roundtable was how naturally Michael Dean Parsons speaks about mentorship. Instead of portraying his career as a succession of individual achievements, he consistently acknowledged the influence of collaborators and senior composers who shaped his development. That attitude perhaps explains why he has become such a valued presence within large-scale productions. Modern film scoring increasingly relies on teams capable of maintaining a coherent musical identity across lengthy productions, and Parsons embodies this evolution of the profession, where flexibility, orchestration expertise and collaborative instincts can be just as important as composing memorable themes.

The conversation also highlighted how dramatically the entertainment landscape has evolved over the last decade. Streaming platforms now demand cinematic scores for television productions that rival—or sometimes surpass—the complexity traditionally reserved for feature films. Parsons' résumé perfectly illustrates this shift. Alongside scripted dramas, he has written music for documentaries such as Gold & Greed: The Hunt for Fenn's Treasure and Light & Magic, projects requiring entirely different narrative rhythms while still demanding emotional sophistication. His ability to move seamlessly between genres reflects a composer increasingly comfortable adapting his musical vocabulary without sacrificing his artistic identity.

The annual Musical Anatomy of a Superhero gathering has always celebrated the invisible artists behind modern popular culture, and Michael Dean Parsons exemplifies exactly why these conversations have become an essential stop at Comic-Con. While actors and directors naturally receive much of the public attention, composers remain responsible for giving emotional resonance to worlds audiences may remember for decades. Listening to Parsons discuss melody, orchestration and dramatic intention reinforced how carefully constructed every musical decision truly is, particularly on productions balancing intimate character moments with large-scale spectacle.

For Mulderville, being the only French publication represented at this press roundtable once again underlined the unique value of Comic-Con's professional access. Beyond promotional soundbites, these encounters provide an opportunity to observe creators reflecting thoughtfully on their craft and on the collaborative nature of contemporary filmmaking. As Michael Dean Parsons continues to establish himself among Hollywood's leading composers through projects that span prestige television, blockbuster cinema and concert music alike, his appearance at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 confirmed that one of the industry's most versatile musical voices is only beginning to reach his full creative potential.

Composer Filmography :
2019 – Only (with John Kaefer)
2021 – Dark Woods (Podcast series, 8 episodes) 
2021 – Texas: Spirit & Soul (TV Movie) 
2022 – Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return (Documentary Special) 
2022 – Sketchbook (Disney+ series, 6 episodes) 
2023 – Courage Rising 
2023 – MasterClass: Martha Stewart – Think Like a Boss, Act Like a Legend 
2023 – Pain Hustlers (with James Newton Howard)
2023 – Stan Lee (Disney+ documentary)
2025 – Gold & Greed: The Hunt for Fenn's Treasure (Netflix documentary series) 
2025 – Light & Magic – Season 2 (Disney+ documentary series, 3 episodes) 
2026 – Homecoming: The Tokyo Series 
2026 – Spider-Noir (TV series, 8 episodes) (With Kris Bowers)

You can found our photos in our Flickr page

Photos and video 4K :  Boris Colletier / Mulderville