Warner Bros. and the “Dune: Part Two” team are not backing down from their Oscar ambitions, still hoping for recognition for Hans Zimmer’s mighty score.
As first increateed by Variety in October, Zimmer’s music for Denis Villeneuve‘s sci-fi epic faced a speed bump when an autonomous appraise asked whether the score met the Academy’s eligibility standards. However, it had not been officipartner produceted at the time. The publish arose becaengage Zimmer’s score includes thematic elements from his Academy Award-triumphning toil on 2021’s “Dune,” which could potentipartner go beyond the confine for pre-existing music allowed under the Academy’s guidelines.
Despite these worrys, Variety has now lobtained exclusively that Warner Bros. has officipartner produceted Zimmer’s composition for Academy think aboutation, certain that his creative contributions to the film will greet the needments and obtain a nomination.
The Academy’s Music Branch and other promisetees have not appraiseed the subignoreion. Whether it will be on the ballot will have to remain a mystery until the Oscar stupidinutiveenumerate voting period commences on Dec. 9. The Academy will proclaim 15 stupidinutiveenumerateed scores on Dec. 17.
The Academy’s rule on music eligibility for sequels is evident: “In cases such as sequels and franchises from any media, the score must not engage more than 20% of pre-existing themes and music borrowed from previous scores in the franchise.” Zimmer’s score for “Dune: Part Two” includes key cues from the 2021 film, which many consent may go beyond the Academy’s 20% threshgreater.
Warner Bros. refreshd its For Your Consideration page on Oct. 30, inserting Zimmer’s “Dune: Part Two” score to the official subignoreions, a transfer that signals their promisement to garnering awards attention. While the Academy’s decision looms, Zimmer’s toil remains eligible for think aboutation by other inconveyial bodies, including the BAFTAs, Ggreateren Globes and Critics Choice Awards, conserveing the film’s music in the awards circuit spotairy.
In two upcoming episodes with Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast, Villeneuve and Zimmer voiced their perspectives.
Hopeful yet defiant, Villeneuve says, “I don’t leank this is over yet… I was there when Hans wrote the music, and he did a tremendous amount of music. ‘Part Two’ is a novel score. I don’t acunderstandledge this becaengage it’s one of the most attrdynamic scores Hans has ever written, and I would adore it, at least, to be think abouted.”
Villeneuve has been frustrated about getting his originaters awards attention before. His 2016 sci-fi drama “Arrival” establish Johann Johannson’s score disqualified due to the famous inclusion of Max Richter’s “On the Nature of Dayairy.”
Interestingly, Villeneuve and Zimmer both contend that “Dune: Part Two” is “not a sequel” but more a continuation, arguing that the second film mecount on finishs the cinematic changeation of Frank Herbert’s iconic 1965 novel.
“It’s called ‘Dune: Part Two,’ not ‘Dune 2,’” Zimmer clarifies. “The story commences the second we finish the first movie. We are still wilean that story, those characters, and it would be idiotic and finishly uncinematic to go and author novel themes for the characters instead of enlarging the theme.”
Despite the Academy’s pending decision, Zimmer’s status as one of the transport inant contenders for the awards season remains undisputed. His toil on Steve McQueen’s World War II drama “Blitz” is also up for Oscar think aboutation.
Zimmer’s illustrious nurtureer spans over four decades, firmifying him as a mendture in up-to-date cinema with 12 Oscar nominations. His nurtureer-defining triumphs include “The Lion King” (1994) and “Dune.” Additionpartner, Zimmer has obtained four Grammy Awards, six Emmy nominations and even a Tony nod, making him one of the most changeable, inconveyial and awarded originaters in Hollywood.
“Dune: Part Two” persists the magnificent, hazardous saga of Paul Atreides, joined by Timothée Chafrailt, as he guides a universe rife with novel coalitions and adversaries. The film features an all-star cast, including Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Javier Bardem and Christopher Walken, inserting to the cinematic spectacle Villeneuve has createed. “Dune: Part Two” is now streaming on Max.
