Warner Bros. Pushes for Oscar Nod for Hans Zimmer’s “Dune: Part Two” Score Despite Eligibility Hurdle

With a complex Academy rule in play, Zimmer’s acclaimed composition faces scrutiny over reused themes while Warner Bros. remains hopeful for a nomination.

Warner Bros. and the creative team behind Dune: Part Two are determined to secure Hans Zimmer an Oscar nomination for his powerful score, despite a recent eligibility challenge. In October, Variety reported that Zimmer’s music for Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic encountered an unexpected review regarding the Academy’s eligibility standards. This review raised concerns about the use of thematic elements from Zimmer’s Oscar-winning 2021 score for Dune, potentially surpassing the limit on pre-existing music that Academy guidelines allow.

Warner Bros., undeterred, officially submitted Zimmer’s score on October 30, showing confidence that his fresh contributions to Dune: Part Two will pass Academy scrutiny. This submission is now pending review by the Academy’s Music Branch, which will decide if the score makes the shortlist once voting begins on December 9. The Academy is set to reveal the 20 shortlisted scores on December 17.

The Academy’s rule for sequel scores stipulates that “no more than 20% of the score” should reuse themes or music from previous franchise entries. Zimmer’s score for Dune: Part Two does reintroduce significant cues from the 2021 film, which some speculate may exceed this threshold.

Despite this potential hurdle, Zimmer’s work on Dune: Part Two remains eligible for other awards, including the BAFTAs, Golden Globes, and Critics Choice Awards, keeping his work visible in the awards circuit.

In two recent interviews with Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast, Villeneuve and Zimmer both expressed hope and defiance. “I don’t think this is over,” Villeneuve stated. “I was there when Hans composed the music. Part Two is a new score.” He passionately defends the work, calling it “one of the most beautiful scores Hans has ever written,” and insists it should be given consideration.

Villeneuve has faced similar frustrations before: his 2016 film Arrival saw its score disqualified due to another composer’s pre-existing track. Villeneuve and Zimmer also argue that Dune: Part Two is not truly a “sequel,” but the continuation of the story that began in 2021’s Dune, which they believe should be factored into eligibility considerations. “This is Dune: Part Two, not Dune 2,” Zimmer emphasizes. “It would be uncinematic to ignore the existing themes for the characters.”

While the Academy’s decision remains pending, Zimmer’s reputation as a dominant force in film composition remains intact. With more than 40 years in the industry, Zimmer has been nominated for 12 Oscars and won twice, for The Lion King (1994) and Dune (2021). His career includes Grammy and Emmy awards as well as a Tony nomination, establishing him as one of the most acclaimed composers in Hollywood. Zimmer is also up for another Oscar this year for his work on Blitz, a WWII drama directed by Steve McQueen.

Dune: Part Two continues the sweeping saga of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he navigates an ever-shifting universe filled with new alliances and foes. Featuring a stellar cast that includes Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Javier Bardem, and Christopher Walken, Villeneuve’s grand vision is now streaming on Max.