**Warner Bros. Submits Hans Zimmer's Score for "Dune: Part Two" for Oscar Consideration**

Warner Bros. is pushing ahead with its Oscar campaign for Hans Zimmer's score in "Dune: Part Two," despite initial concerns about eligibility. The score faced scrutiny when an independent review flagged potential issues regarding its compliance with Academy standards. At the heart of the issue is the worry that Zimmer's music might overstep the limit for incorporating pre-existing themes from his award-winning score for the 2021 "Dune," a limitation set by the Academy's rule that no more than 20% of a sequel's score can reuse music from an earlier installment.

Nevertheless, Warner Bros. has officially submitted Zimmer’s work for Academy review, hoping that his innovative compositions will secure a nomination. As of now, the Academy's Music Branch has not reviewed the submission, leaving the fate of Zimmer's score unknown until the Oscar shortlist voting period begins on December 9. The shortlist of 15 scores will be revealed on December 17.

Director Denis Villeneuve and Hans Zimmer vigorously defend the originality and excellence of the score. Villeneuve, who has experienced similar frustrations with the disqualification of Johann Johannson's score for his 2016 film "Arrival," maintains that "Dune: Part Two" features a worthwhile and distinct musical composition. Zimmer echoes these sentiments, arguing that the new film is more a continuation of the first rather than a traditional sequel, thereby justifying the musical motifs' recurrence.

Further highlighting Zimmer's prolific career, his score for Steve McQueen's "Blitz" is also up for Oscar consideration this season. Zimmer's extensive experience in the film industry includes 12 Oscar nominations and wins for "The Lion King" in 1994 and "Dune" in 2021, in addition to multiple Grammy Awards and Emmy nominations.

"Dune: Part Two," which continues the epic journey of Paul Atreides, portrayed by Timothée Chalamet, features a stellar cast that includes Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Javier Bardem, and Christopher Walken. As the film streams on Max, the Oscar buzz surrounding Zimmer's powerful score underscores the significance of his contributions to modern cinema.