Hans Zimmer’s epic ‘Dune: Part Two’ score out of the Oscar's race​

Dune: Part Two, directed by Denis Villeneuve, received widespread critical acclaim upon its release in March 2024. Viewers praised its visuals, storytelling, and especially the musical score by Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer. However, Zimmer’s impressive score for this sci-fi epic was excluded from the Oscar race due to the Academy's rule, as reported by Variety.

According to the Academy, for sequels and franchises, no more than 20% of the score can be based on themes from previous entries. Since Zimmer's work for Dune: Part Two uses significant elements from his 2021 score for Dune: Part One, it does not meet this criterion.

On the bright side, Zimmer’s score for Steve McQueen’s upcoming WWII drama Blitzis still eligible, giving him another chance for Academy acknowledgment this year. The two have worked together before on Widows and the Oscar-winning 12 Years a Slave. In an exclusive interview with Variety, Zimmer stressed that he doesn’t compose for awards, sharing the creative process behind Dune: Part Two.

This puts Dune: Part Two on a growing list of great scores snubbed by the Academy. Other notable examples include Jóhann Jóhannsson's score for Arrival, Cliff Martinez's work in Drive, and Clint Mansell's music for Black Swan. In contrast, composer John Williams has received numerous nominations for sequels and franchises, including six for the Star Wars series, two for Harry Potter, and four for Indiana Jones.

Most of the nominations in the Star Wars franchise are after he already won the award for the original 1977 Star Wars film, which continued to carry similar musical motifs throughout the franchise. Despite the setback, Zimmer continues to champion Dune: Part Two. He calls it a 'contribution to a larger cinematic experience'.

His illustrious career spans decades, leaving a lasting impact on cinema, with 12 Oscar nominations. He’s also earned four Grammys, six Emmy nods, and a Tony nomination during his career.