Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Marvel's Spider-Man Secret Lair promotional image

    Get a Look At the Secret Lair x Marvel’s Spider-Man Superdrop

    09/08/2025
    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions gameplay still

    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions Is All About Adventure (with Friends)

    09/08/2025
    Chord in Persona 5 The Phantom X

    Now Is The Perfect Time To Jump Back In ‘Persona 5: The Phantom X’

    09/05/2025
    Cosmic Spider-Man card details

    [EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

    09/02/2025
    Lee Corso from College Football GameDay in EA Sports games

    EA Sports Always Understood Lee Corso’s Legacy

    09/01/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » Interviews » Sundance 2020: Carolyn Talks…With Anthony Willis, Composer on ‘Promising Young Woman’

Sundance 2020: Carolyn Talks…With Anthony Willis, Composer on ‘Promising Young Woman’

Carolyn HindsBy Carolyn Hinds02/08/20203 Mins ReadUpdated:04/10/2023
Promising Young Woman — But Why Tho
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Promising Young Woman — But Why Tho

Composer, Anthony Willis sets the musical tone of his latest feature film project, Promising Young Woman with a mix of orchestral renditions of popular disco and pop songs such as “It’s Raining Men” by The Weather Girls, and light airy pieces, giving the film a dark fairytale atmosphere that perfectly fits its tale of hope and revenge.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

During the 2020 Sundance Films Festival, Carolyn had the opportunity to speak with Willis about his work on Promising Young Woman. Written and directed by Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman shows how the thirst for vengeance, guilt, and loneliness make for a dangerous combination, when Cassie (Carey Mulligan), decides to seek retribution against so-called “nice guys”, after the death of her best friend Nina.

After Cassie meets Ryan ( Bo Burnham), she realizes that moving on and giving love a chance might not be so bad after all, but when she reconnects with an old college acquaintance,  secrets are revealed and Cassie realizes that sometimes the big bad wolf needs to be confronted.

During the interview Carolyn and Willis discuss his creative process, the differences between working on films, animated projects like How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming and Fortnight, and why string instruments are so effective at heightening emotions.


About Anthony Willis

Composer Anthony Willis has taken a running leap into the Neverland of film scoring, working on some of the most exciting projects of recent years. Anthony’s credits include Dreamworks Animation’s 2019 Holiday Special, How to Train your Dragon: Homecoming, Seasons 6, 7 & 8 of the video game sensation Fortnite, Michelle Morgan’s Sundance Selection comedy: It Happened in L.A., Sony Playstation’s BAFTA nominated video game Knack II, & David Yarovesky’s horror thriller,  The Hive. Up and coming projects include Emerald Fennell’s Dark Comedy thriller: Promising Young Woman starring Carey Mulligan, and Amin Matalqa’s animated adventure, Hump, starring Simon Pegg and Gaten Matarazzo.

A protégé of Oscar-nominated composer John Powell, Willis has become a sought after talent, also contributing additional music to many of Hollywood’s major franchises including How to Train your Dragon 2 & The Hidden World, Jumanji: The Next Level, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Jason Bourne, Rio 2, Despicable Me 2, Pan & Ferdinand.

Working alongside Henry Jackman, Anthony composed additional music for Nate Parker’s 2016 Sundance Winner The Birth of a Nation and contributed additional arrangements to Harry Gregson-Williams’ acclaimed score for The Martian. His additional music credits also include Papa: Hemingway in Cuba (for Mark Isham) Apple’s documentary The Elephant Queen (for Alex Heffes), Monster Trucks (for David Sardy) and My Spy (for Dominick Lewis).

Willis grew up in London and began his musical training as a chorister of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, England. He went on to study Composition at Marlborough College, Wiltshire and the University of Bristol, before earning his graduate degree from the University of Southern California. He is based in Los Angeles.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘VICE Investigates’ Episode 6 — “Anti-Vaxx Fever”
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Star Trek Year Five’, Book One
Carolyn Hinds
  • X (Twitter)
  • Instagram

I am a Freelance Film Critic, Journalist and Podcaster - and avid live tweeter. Member of the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA), my published work can be found on ButWhyThoPodcast, The Beat, Observer, and many other sites. As a critic, I believe my personal experiences and outlook on life, give readers and listeners a different perspective they can appreciate, and help them to see things in a new light. I am the proud host of Beyond The Romance Drama Podcast - a podcast dedicated to discussing Korean and other Asian dramas, the co-host of So Here's What Happened! Podcast (@SHWH_Pod), and the weekly science fiction film and TV live tweet event #SaturdayNightSciFi.

Related Posts

Yeon Sang-ho behind the scenes of The Ugly

TIFF 2025: Yeon Sang-ho Asks Audiences To Question Beauty In ‘The Ugly’

09/11/2025
Final Fantasy Tactics interview promo image

Final Fantasy Tactics Devs Talk About The Relevance Of The Game’s Politics Today

09/10/2025
Naoki Yoshida's Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail

Final Fantasy’s Naoki Yoshida Looks Back To Look Forward

09/03/2025
The Comic Shop

Cheyenne Ewulu’s ‘The Comic Shop’ Is The Sitcom Fandom Deserves

08/30/2025
Star Wars Visions Volume 3 BLACK Directed by Shinya Ohira

Shinya Ohira Explores Pain, Sacrifice, And Storytelling In ‘Black’ For ‘Visions Volume 3’

08/29/2025
Star Wars Visions Volume 3 James Waugh But Why Tho

James Waugh Believes Unique Expression Is The Heart Of ‘Star Wars: Visions Volume 3’

08/28/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
The Long Walk (2025) film review promotional image
9.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘The Long Walk’ Is The Most Heartfelt And Heartbreaking Stephen King Adaptation

By Kate Sánchez09/11/2025Updated:09/11/2025

The Long Walk is a brutal watch. Equally heartfelt and heartbreaking, it’s one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s work.

EA Sports FC Icons Match promotional image from Nexon News

2025 Icons Match Returns With Football Legends Bridging The Pitch And Video Games

By Kate Sánchez09/03/2025Updated:09/03/2025

NEXON has announced the return of the ‘2025 Icons Match,’ a live event that brings a full roster of legendary players to the pitch.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 11
8.5
Anime

REVIEW: ‘DanDaDan’ Season 2 Episode 11 – “Hey, It’s a Kaiju”

By Allyson Johnson09/11/2025

The ragtag group faces down the mysterious kaiju in the thrilling and beautifully animated DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 11.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here