Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve believes Hans Zimmer’s score should be considered for an Oscar.
Zimmer returned to score the epic Dune: Part Two after working on the first film but earlier this year, it was reported that an independent review had questioned whether the score would be eligible for an Oscar because it reuses elements of his Dune score.
According to the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences, “in cases such as sequels and franchises from any media, the score must not use more than 20 per cent of pre-existing themes and music borrowed from previous scores in the franchise. Many believe Zimmer’s score for Dune: Part Two exceeds that.
However, Variety has reported that Warner Bros. have submitted the score for an Oscar anyway, with their For Your Consideration page updated to include Dune: Part Two’s score. The outcome will be revealed December 9 when the ballot for the shortlist is shared with voters.
Speaking about it with Variety, Villeneuve said: “I don’t think this is over yet… I was there when Hans wrote the music and he did a tremendous amount of music. Part Two is a new score. I don’t accept this because it’s one of the most beautiful scores Hans has ever written, and I would love it, at least, to be considered.”
Zimmer has also argued that the film is a continuation, not a sequel, so the rules don’t apply anyway. “It’s called Dune: Part Two. not Dune 2. The story starts the second we finish the first movie. We are still within that story, those characters, and it would be foolish and completely uncinematic to go and write new themes for the characters instead of enlarging the theme.”
A third Dune film has also been confirmed. Villeneuve has said Dune: Messiah could be released “sooner than expected” after the director took a break. “I think it’ll be a great idea to do something completely different,” he added.
“The story takes place like 12 years after where we left the characters at the end of Part Two. Their journey, their story is different this time, and that’s why I always say that while it’s the same world it’s a new film with new circumstances.”