Duneneeded an epic score to match its large-scale worlds, and who better for the job than the acclaimed Hans Zimmer? Now nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score, the composer shared his experience working director Denis Villeneuve on the blockbuster sci-fi film.
Being a longtime collaborator with director Christopher Nolan (best known for scoring his iconic films likeThe Dark Knight,Inception, andInterstellar), Zimmer left it up toLudwig Göransson to score Nolan’sTenet, as he felt inclined to work on his dream-projectDune.While Zimmer worked with Villeneuve on 2017’sBlade Runner 2049, it isDunethat feels as if Zimmer has found another long-time collaborator.
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In an interview with Gold Derby, Zimmer recalled working onDune, and how he and Villeneuve were on the same page from the get-go. “I knew just by the way he was asking, knowing him, that he was making the same movie that I was making in my head,” Zimmer explained. “It was so important to me that this vision I had in my head wouldn’t be blunted.” Zimmer shared he ended up crafting instruments that he claimed weren’t a part of this time in order to capture the soundscape of the future.
Their work together evidently proved to be a success, as the score has now become one of Zimmer’s best in recent years and has earned him several awards. Zimmer even enjoyed the process so much that he has also written asecond original score for theDunemaking-of book, titledThe Art and Soul of Dune.The second score was available to purchase and stream on the same release date of the film (October 22).
WithDune: Part Twoscheduled to begin filming this summer, Zimmer will of course return to help continue building the world of Arrakis. Other than his work in theDuneuniverse, Zimmer will also be in charge of the musical score forthe upcomingTop Gun: Maverick, the Tom Cruise-led sequel to 1986’sTop Gun.
As forDune: Part Two, according to Villeneuve, it will be a much more fun film now that many of the characters have been established. Covering the second half of Frank Herbert’s novel,Part Twowill surely be another visually stunning theatrical experience with an equally captivating score from Zimmer. Until that film comes, fans can get wrapped inDune’s unique world all over again.
