Denis Villeneuve Expresses Support for Hans Zimmer Amid Academy Awards Exclusion

Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve has voiced his strong opposition to the Academy Awards' decision to exclude renowned composer Hans Zimmer from consideration for Best Original Score for his work on Dune: Part Two. In a recent statement, Villeneuve called Zimmer's score “one of the best scores of the year,” further emphasizing his admiration for the composer by labeling him a “genius.”

The Academy's decision to disqualify Zimmer’s score stemmed from its similarities to the music from the first Dune installment, released in 2021. However, Villeneuve disagrees with the Academy’s reasoning, asserting that the score is integral to the continuation of the Dune narrative. He explained that the music in Part Two serves as a “continuity of Part One,” as the two films together form one cohesive cinematic experience.

In his comments, Villeneuve emphasized that the soundtrack should be regarded as a part of a larger, unified project, rather than being judged separately. He added, “I don’t use the word genius often, but Hans is one.”

While Zimmer has been excluded from this year’s Oscar nominations, he did receive recognition for his work at the recent Golden Globe Awards, where he was nominated for Best Original Score. Zimmer, who previously won an Academy Award for Best Original Score for Dune (2021), has had a longstanding career marked by iconic soundtracks, including those for Interstellar and Dunkirk.