Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi

Soaring Notes & Spliced Frames: John Ottman on Superman Returns

In this special 2006 interview, we catch up with John Ottman, fresh off completing his remarkable dual role as both composer and editor for Superman Returns. In a rare behind-the-scenes conversation, Ottman reflects on the intense creative challenge of honoring John Williams’ legendary Superman themes while composing a fresh musical identity for Bryan Singer’s vision of the Man of Steel.

🎵 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• The pressure and privilege of working with the musical DNA of John Williams’ Superman score
• How Ottman balanced nostalgia with originality in shaping the film’s emotional soundscape
• His approach to editing a blockbuster with mythic scope and intimate heart

Reign of the Supermen: Legends and Legacy

Straight from the heart of New York City, join us for a special edition of the podcast recorded live at the Directors Guild Theater, where we celebrate the epic conclusion to The Death of Superman saga—Reign of the Supermen. We take you behind the velvet rope with exclusive red carpet interviews featuring the voices and visionaries who brought this bold chapter of DC animation to life.

🌟 Featured Guests Include:

• 🦸‍♂️ Jerry O'Connell – Superman/Clark Kent

• 💬 Rebecca Romijn – Lois Lane

• ⚡ Cress Williams – Steel/John Henry Irons

• 🌀 Patrick Fabian – Hank Henshaw/Cyborg Superman

• 💀 Charles Halford – Eradicator

• 🛡️ Nyambi Nyambi – Martian Manhunter

• 🔊 Tony Todd – Darkseid

• 🎬 Sam Liu – Director

• 🎞️ James Tucker – Executive Producer

• ✏️ Phil Bourassa – Character Designer

• 🧠 Jim Krieg – Producer

• 🖊️ Tim Sheridan – Screenwriter

🗽 Recorded: Live at the Directors Guild of America Theater in NYC 🎉 

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Superman Week: Kryptonian Farewells: Behind the Scenes of The Death of Superman

Join me in a roundtable at San Diego Comic Con with the powerful voices behind The Death of Superman. I sat down with stars Jerry O'Connell (Superman), Rebecca Romijn (Lois Lane), Jason O'Mara (Batman), and Christopher Gorham (The Flash) to dive into what it means to bring this legendary DC storyline to animated life.

💥 What’s Inside:

• The emotional punch of voicing iconic heroes in one of Superman’s most devastating chapters
• Jerry and Rebecca reflect on playing DC’s ultimate power couple—and their chemistry on and off the mic
• Jason O'Mara breaks down Batman’s grim determination amid global crisis
• Christopher Gorham talks pacing and pathos as The Flash in a story that never slows down
• Candid SDCC moments, fan energy, and the legacy of Superman’s sacrifice

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Byte Superman: Heroes And Some Villains

Five cast members from Superman (2025)—Edi Gathegi, María Gabriela de Faría, Isabela Merced, Nathan Fillion, and Anthony Carrigan—from each side of the fence, help explore the minds of these metahumans. From reluctant villains to grumpy geniuses, these characters bring complexity, charisma, and chaos to James Gunn’s reimagined DC Universe. Hear how each actor shaped their role.

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Byte Superman: Truth, Justice, and James Gunn’s Vision

A look into the making of Superman (2025) with interviews supplied by Warner Bros., featuring writer-director James Gunn and the film’s lead stars: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nicholas Hoult. From character development to casting choices, we explore how Gunn reimagined the Man of Steel for a new generation.

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From the Gridiron to Gotham: Gaius Charles on Finding His Voice as Batwing

In this episode, we sit down with actor Gaius Charles, known to fans as the charismatic Brian “Smash” Williams from Friday Night Lights, and now the voice behind Batwing in Batman: Bad Blood. Gaius opens up about stepping into the world of DC Comics, embracing an unfamiliar superhero, and what it took to bring Luke Fox to life through voice alone.

The Sound of the Mountain: Terror and Transformation in The Sound

This week, we descend into the heart of cinematic horror with an exclusive look at the mind-bending thriller The Sound. Set in the unforgiving high altitudes of a remote mountain range, The Sound follows a group of elite climbers whose expedition takes a horrifying turn when they encounter something far beyond the natural world—an ancient, malevolent force that defies comprehension.

🎬 Joining us are the creative forces behind the film:
Brendan Devane, writer and director, discusses the genesis of the story and his vision
Marc Hills and Rachel Finniger, who portray members of the climbing team, reflect on the emotional and physical demands of their roles
Veteran actor David Clennon (of The Thing and The Sound) shares his thoughts on his character

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When the Weeds Whisper: David Koepp’s Yard Work

In this chilling and cinematic episode, we sit down with legendary screenwriter and director David Koepp—the mind behind iconic films like Jurassic Park, Spider-Man, and Panic Room—to talk about his foray into immersive audio storytelling with the Audible Original horror drama, Yard Work.

Koepp shares the eerie inspiration behind the story, which follows a grieving widower and former surgeon—played by the one and only Kevin Bacon—as he confronts strange and increasingly malevolent overgrowth creeping into his remote property. We explore Koepp’s transition from screen to sound, the unique constraints and creative freedoms of audio horror, and how he builds suspense using only the power of voice, sound design, and imagination.

🔊 Plus: A gripping clip from Kevin Bacon's performance as Charles, delivering the kind of grounded, visceral intensity that only he can. It’s a small taste of the eerie atmosphere that makes Yard Work a must-listen for horror fans.

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David Clennon on The Sound: When the Mountain Watches Back

In this episode of Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi, we venture into the unknown with acclaimed actor David Clennon, whose career has spanned groundbreaking science fiction and deeply human storytelling. From his unforgettable role as Palmer in John Carpenter’s The Thing, to Miles Drentell in Thirtysomething and now Kurt in the mind-bending film, The Sound, Clennon has consistently portrayed characters who confront mystery, menace, and the limits of perception.

We dive into his role in The Sound—a spine-tingling movie about a team of mountaineers who encounter an eerie, invisible force in the high-altitude wilderness. David discusses how The Sound explores psychological tension and the fragility of human understanding when nature—or something else—turns against us.

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Becoming Human: Inside the Mind of Artificial

In this episode of Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi, a deep dive into Artificial, the groundbreaking interactive sci-fi series created by Bernie Su and Evan Mandery. The story centers on Sophie Lin, an artificial human designed by Dr. Matt Lin to explore the question: what makes us human? Through intimate live-streamed interactions with viewers, Artificial blurs the boundary between scripted narrative and real-time choice, invited audiences to shape Sophie’s evolution as she wrestles with love, identity, morality, and purpose.

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