Hans Zimmer On Academy Disqualification For ‘Dune: Part Two’ Score: “A Stupid Rule”

Hans Zimmer opened up about the Academy disqualification of his Dune: Part Two score for Oscars consideration, calling the ruling “stupid.”

In a conversation with Josh Horowitz on his Happy Sad Confused, the storied film composer said the decision was not “a sore point,” but rather a foolish one in his opinion.

“You know something? It’s not really a sore point,” he began. “It’s just such a stupid point — how can it be a sore point?”

The two-time Oscar winner continued, “I got disqualified because I was using material from the first movie in the second movie, but it’s not a sequel. It is the completion, both movies are one arc. So was I supposed to go and take all the character themes away and write new character themes and develop them? It’s just a stupid rule. What I didn’t want to do is go and bitch about it.”

Late last year, an Academy independent review found that Zimmer’s inclusion of thematic elements from 2021’s Dune violated the organization’s eligibility requirements, which maintain that a score for an eligible film must comprise a minimum of 35% of the total music in the film. For sequels and franchises, the score cannot use more than 20% of the pre-existing themes and music from previous installments.

Zimmer’s comments come after Dune: Part Two helmer Denis Villeneuve slammed the decision earlier this year ahead of the 97th Oscars, given that “there is continuity” and the dual films are akin to “one big movie that is cut in half.”

“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,” he said at the time. “I don’t use the word genius often, but Hans is one.”

Speaking to Dune: Messiah, the third in the Dune universe and forthcoming from Villeneuve, Zimmer said, “I talk to Denis every day. Yes, it’s happening sooner rather than later.” When questioned if he was already putting together the score, he coyly answered, “Mmm, maybe.”

Elsewhere in the podcast, Zimmer said of having been asked to compose for Marvel films: “They have, and it was always — timing wasn’t great. And really, quite honestly, I’m looking for other things right now. Look, I’ve done the trifecta; I’ve done Batman, Superman, Spider-Man — and Wonder Woman. I mean, what do you want me to do? Do some of the minor characters? Probably yes.”