Denis Villeneuve criticized the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for disqualifying Hans Zimmer’sDune: Part Twoscore from consideration in the Best Original Score category at the 2025 Oscars. Under Academy rules, a sequel’s score must consist of at least 80% original compositions to qualify. Since Zimmer’s work forPart Twoincorporates substantial elements fromDune: Part One, it unfortunately did not meet this criterion. Zimmer previously won the Oscar for Best Original Score in 2022 forDune: Part One.
According toSlash Film, Villeneuve addressed the Academy’s decision at a recentDune: Part Twoscreening. The music for the sequel,while drawing heavily from its predecessor, featured original arrangements and themes, and Villeneuve praised Zimmer in his comments as a genuis. Check out Villeneuve’s full comments regarding the disqualification below:
“I am absolutely against the decision of the Academy to exclude Hans, frankly, because I feel like his score is one of the best scores of the year. I don’t use the word genius often, but Hans is one.”
What This Means for the Dune Franchise and Awards Season
The Academy Has Rules, But At What Cost?
The Academy’s rules aim to ensure that a sequel’s music is set apart from the preceding film, prioritizing originality in the category. WhileDune: Part Twointroduces several new musical pieces, its reliance on motifs, instruments, and leitmotifs from the first film aligns with Villeneuve’s vision of theDuneseries. This continuity, however,became a critical factor in thescore’s ineligibility.
Due to this, Villeneuve’s disappointment over the decision is reflective of the challenges sequels face during awards season. Though Zimmer’s score enhances the film’s overall experience,the Academy’s decision comes from a place of awarding originality over thematic consistency.With the eleven-time-nominated composer already holding an Oscar for the first film, the sequel’s disqualification points toward thecomplexities of honoring franchiseswithin the Academy’s guidelines.
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So far this awards season,Dune: Part Twohas faced other awards-related hurdles. Obstructions include factors such as a delayed release due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, which shifted its premiere from November 2023 to March 2024. This delaypotentially impacted its visibility and awards campaign momentum, placing further pressure on its recognition at the 2025 Oscars.
Our Take on Villeneuve’s Criticism Toward The Oscars
Hans Zimmer Will Be Left Out of the 2025 Oscars
While the Academy’s decision adheres to its standards,Villeneuve’s frustrationis expecteddue to how integral Zimmer’s work is to theDunefranchise.Zimmer’s music not only complements visual storytelling, but also bridges the narratives of bothDune: Part OneandDune: Part Two. The film’s disqualification poises broader questions about how award rules accommodate sequels and serialized storytelling, especially in a time when franchises dominate Hollywood and afterWicked, another adaptation, found its score to be eligible for contention in the category.
Source:Slash Film
Dune: Part Two
Dune: Part Two continues the epic saga of Paul Atreides as he allies with Chani and the Fremen. Pursuing retribution for his family’s devastation, Paul grapples with a significant decision impacting his personal desires and the universe’s future, attempting to avert a dire destiny that only he anticipates.
