Dune 2 director Denis Villeneuve reacts to the Oscars except for Hans Zimmer's film

Dune: Part Two was one of the biggest movies of 2024but unfortunately, not everyone who contributed to the film's success will be recognized for their work at the upcoming Academy Awards. A few months ago, it was confirmed that the famous composer Hans Zimmer will not be eligible for Best Original Score because the sequel's soundtrack shares too much music with the first film. The Academy stipulates that a sequel cannot use more than 20% of the previous entry's music in its score and still qualify for the category.

Zimmer's exclusion is mitigated somewhat by the fact that his soundtrack to the first “Dune” actually won an Oscar for best original score. However, fans have lamented his removal from this year's category, as the sequel arguably has an even better soundtrack based on the already iconic love theme, “A Quiet Time Between Storms.” Director Denis Villeneuve has now joined the chorus, expressing his dismay at Zimmer's snub from the Academy.

On January 2, 2025, I attended a screening of The Dune: Part Two at the Directors Guild of America in New York, where Villeneuve gave a short speech discussing the film and its awards season aspirations. “I'm absolutely against the Academy's decision to exclude Hans, frankly, because I think his score is one of the best scores of the year,” the director said when asked about Zimmer's contribution to the film. “I don't often use the word genius, but Hans is one.”

It's natural for a director to stand behind his team, that's why of course Villeneuve would support Zimmer in his Oscar bid. He discussed the unique nature of the Dunes films, stating that the score for Part Two is “obviously rooted in Part One because there's a continuity” and calling the duology “one big movie that gets cut out”. in half.” Unfortunately, that seems to be exactly the case with the Academy, and Zimmer already taking home one trophy for “Dune” probably didn’t help his case (though you could argue it should have).

While some interludes, instrumentals, and themes certainly cross over from both films, Dune 2 also has a whole collection of new music. The film is much sharper and more dramatic than its predecessor's slower burn, and those heightened moments wouldn't work as well without new Zimmer arrangements for “Dune 2”.

While Villeneuve is clearly disappointed to see “Dune 2” score shut out of the Oscars, he made it clear during his DGA discussion that he holds no grudges. “I'm not here to complain,” he said jokingly, though he stressed: “The soundtrack is really a sequel to 'Part One.'

It's clear, Villeneuve says, that he and Zimmer had a great working relationship on the Dune films, which began with a shared love of Frank Herbert's novel. “Han has been my partner since day one,” said the director, talking about the start of work on the first “Dune” film. “The first artist I contacted was Hans Zimmer. I knew he liked the book, I knew he wanted to work with me on this project.” The two worked closely together in the early stages, said Villeneuve, who called Zimmer “my closest ally to discuss the meaning of the film.”

While Zimmer wanted to join the project from the start, one part of his work was apparently a little daunting, even for such an established composer. “The only time I saw Hans Zimmer nervous was when we talked about love,” Villeneuve said. “He said, 'What would be important to you,' and I said, 'I'd like you to write something that would break our hearts about this love, about that young woman matching this young man, about that the young man, falls in with the girl and her culture.” This love theme, which became the incredible “Silence Between Storms”, is one of the highlights of “Part Two”, but according to the director, Zimmer was nervous at first. “He turned pale,” Villeneuve said. “They're the hardest to write.”

In the end, both the director and the composer accomplished their tasks, providing a prime example of blockbuster filmmaking at its finest. And while Zimmer won't be taking the Academy Awards stage for “Dune: Part Two,” his score is sure to remain iconic for years to come.

More about for contemporary Hollywood film themes and composers' commentary, see this article we published last year, featuring interviews with Michael Giacchino, John Ottman, and more.