Convention - SDCC 2026: Leo Birenberg shines a spotlight on the art of storytelling through music

By Mulder, San Diego, Centre des congrès, Salle 29CD, 23 july 2026

Music may often be the invisible force behind a film or television series, but during the 18th annual SUPERSONIC: Behind the Music panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, it became the star of the conversation. Held on July 23 in Room 29CD of the San Diego Convention Center, the event gathered an impressive lineup of composers whose work has shaped some of the most popular productions of recent years. Alongside Jeff Russo, Chris Bacon, Joanne Higginbottom, Gavin Brivik, Stephen Lukach, and moderator Aaron LaPlante, Emmy-winning composer Leo Birenberg offered an insightful look into a career built on versatility, collaboration and a genuine passion for storytelling. Following the panel, Mulderville had the opportunity to sit down with the composer for an exclusive interview, exploring both his creative philosophy and the remarkable journey that has made him one of Hollywood's most sought-after composers.

Born in Kentucky and raised in Chicago, Leo Birenberg followed a musical path that led him through studies in composition at New York University and the University of Southern California, where his first professional experiences came from scoring student projects alongside filmmaker Jeremy Reitz. One of the defining moments of his early career arrived almost by chance when he crossed paths with renowned composer Christophe Beck, who became both mentor and collaborator. Under Beck's guidance, Birenberg worked as score coordinator on major productions including The Muppets, Pitch Perfect, Runner Runner and Disney's Frozen, before gradually contributing additional music to films such as Edge of Tomorrow, Ant-Man and Muppets Most Wanted. Those formative years provided him with invaluable experience inside large-scale Hollywood productions while simultaneously encouraging him to develop his own musical identity. Birenberg has often cited John Barry's sweeping score for Out of Africa as one of his all-time favorites, a revealing influence considering his own ability to combine memorable themes with emotional nuance.

Rather than remaining confined to a single musical style, Leo Birenberg quickly established himself as a composer capable of adapting to virtually any genre. His television breakthrough came through projects such as Next Time on Lonny, The Britishes, Big Time in Hollywood, FL and Sing It!, but it was the FX fantasy comedy Son of Zorn that truly showcased his creative flexibility. Instead of relying solely on the expected synth-heavy fantasy sound, Birenberg developed an eclectic musical palette blending orchestral writing with country influences, church choirs and tongue-in-cheek stylistic detours that perfectly matched the show's unconventional tone. That willingness to experiment has remained one of the defining characteristics of his work ever since, allowing him to move seamlessly between live-action comedies, prestige dramas, animated adventures and documentaries without losing his own distinctive musical voice.

The collaboration that has arguably defined the modern phase of his career began in 2018 when Leo Birenberg teamed with fellow composer Zach Robinson on Netflix's Cobra Kai. Far from simply recreating the nostalgic atmosphere of The Karate Kid films, the duo crafted a score capable of honoring Bill Conti's iconic musical legacy while injecting fresh energy through synthesizers, rock influences and emotionally driven orchestral themes. Their music became an integral part of the series' identity throughout its six-season run, earning nominations including ASCAP Composer's Choice Awards and an IFMCA nomination for Best Original Television Score. The partnership between Birenberg and Robinson has since extended well beyond Cobra Kai, resulting in scores for productions including Twisted Metal, Florida Man, Obliterated, Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and several feature films, illustrating a creative chemistry that continues to evolve across multiple genres.

One of the defining milestones in Leo Birenberg's career arrived with Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, whose exuberant and stylistically playful score earned both Birenberg and Zach Robinson the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special. The soundtrack, which effortlessly shifts between epic Hollywood orchestration and affectionate musical parody, perfectly mirrors the irreverent tone of the film while maintaining genuine emotional weight whenever the story demands it. The project also received a Grammy nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media, further cementing Birenberg's reputation among the industry's leading contemporary composers.

Animation has become another major pillar of Leo Birenberg's career. His work on Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, Jurassic World: Chaos Theory and Marvel Animation's Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man demonstrates an impressive ability to balance large-scale adventure with character-driven emotion. Unlike many composers who become associated with a single franchise or musical style, Birenberg has consistently embraced diversity, moving comfortably between animated family entertainment, adult comedy, documentaries and blockbuster action. Recent projects such as Bottoms, Butcher's Crossing, Die Hart 2: Die Harter, The Breadwinner, Pizza Movie and the completed Super Troopers 3 further illustrate the remarkable breadth of his filmography.

During Mulderville's interview following the SUPERSONIC panel, one particularly striking aspect of Leo Birenberg's personality was the enthusiasm with which he discussed collaboration. Rather than presenting composing as an isolated artistic pursuit, he repeatedly emphasized the importance of creative dialogue with directors, producers and fellow composers. That collaborative mindset was also evident throughout the panel itself, where discussions frequently shifted from technical questions about orchestration and electronic textures to the emotional responsibility composers carry in helping audiences connect with characters. Anecdotes exchanged among the panelists highlighted how today's television composers often begin writing long before visual effects are completed, relying on instinct, conversations with filmmakers and early scripts to establish the emotional framework that audiences ultimately experience on screen.

Another memorable takeaway from the conversation was Leo Birenberg's refreshing perspective on musical versatility. Instead of viewing different genres as creative constraints, he described them as opportunities to continually reinvent his musical language. Whether supporting the heartfelt nostalgia of Cobra Kai, the absurd comedy of Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, the prehistoric intensity of Primal discussions during the panel, or the superhero optimism of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, his approach remains rooted in the same fundamental principle: every score should serve the story before serving the music itself. That philosophy perhaps explains why audiences may not always immediately recognize his name, yet instinctively remember the emotional impact his music leaves behind.

As Comic-Con continues to celebrate not only actors, directors and visual artists but also the composers who shape the emotional landscape of modern entertainment, Leo Birenberg stands as one of the industry's most compelling creative voices. His journey from aspiring student composer to Emmy-winning musician reflects not only technical excellence but also a remarkable curiosity for exploring new sounds and new narrative possibilities. The 2026 edition of SUPERSONIC once again demonstrated that behind every memorable scene lies an equally memorable piece of music—and few contemporary composers illustrate that truth better than Leo Birenberg.

Leo Birenberg — Filmography as Composer : 

Films : 
2013 – Movie 43 (segment "Happy Birthday")
2014 – Red Army
2017 – F the Prom (with Zach Robinson)
2019 – Plus One
2019 – Red Penguins (documentary)
2020 – Impractical Jokers: The Movie (with Zach Robinson)
2020 – Secret Society of Second Born Royals
2022 – Unplugging
2022 – Anything's Possible
2022 – Mack & Rita
2022 – Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (with Zach Robinson)
2023 – Bottoms (with Charli XCX)
2023 – Butcher's Crossing
2024 – Die Hart 2: Die Harter (with Zach Robinson)
2024 – How to Rob a Bank (documentary)
2025 – The Man Who Saves the World? (documentary)
2026 – The Breadwinner (with Zach Robinson)
2026 – Pizza Movie (with Zach Robinson)
2026 – Super Troopers 3 (with Zach Robinson; completed)

Television : 
2011–2013 – Dropout
2012 – The Kindly Midwesterner (TV miniseries)
2014 – 30 for 30: Soccer Stories (1 episode)
2014 – Next Time on Lonny
2014 – The Britishes
2015 – Big Time in Hollywood, FL
2016 – Sing It! (with Zach Robinson)
2016 – A Classy Broad
2016 – Son of Zorn
2016 – Take My Wife
2016–2018 – Adam Ruins Everything
2018 – In Search of Greatness
2018–2019 – Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny
2018–2025 – Cobra Kai (with Zach Robinson)
2019–2020 – Tigtone
2019–2021 – PEN15
2020 – Helter Skelter: An American Myth (TV miniseries)
2020–2021 – Central Park
2020–2022 – Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous
2020–2023 – Die Hart (with Zach Robinson)
2022 – The Boys Presents: Diabolical (1 episode)
2022–2023 – Interrupting Chicken
2022 – Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin (with Zach Robinson)
2023 – Florida Man (with Zach Robinson)
2023 – Obliterated (with Zach Robinson)
2023–present – Twisted Metal (with Zach Robinson)
2024–2025 – Jurassic World: Chaos Theory
2025 – The Sisters Grimm
2025–present – Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (with Zach Robinson)

You can found our photos in our Flickr page

Photos and video 4K :  Boris Colletier / Mulderville