Denis Villeneuve Talks Dune Decision That Earned Hans Zimmer’s Respect
Denis Villeneuve reveals the Dune decision that he thinks earned him the respect of composer Hans Zimmer. The Canadian director adapted the first half of Frank Herbert's seminal science-fiction novel of the same name with his 2021 film, which released in US theaters in October to critical acclaim. Dune is nominated for 10 Oscars, including Best Picture, and a sequel titled Dune: Part 2 is scheduled to release in 2023.
Also among the Academy Award nominations is Zimmer's Dune score, with which the renowned film composer attempted to push against the conventions of sci-fi movie soundtracks using heavily European-inspired instrumentation. Since the movie takes place in a distant future, Zimmer tried to not only create new, unfamiliar sounds, but imagine what music might sound like after many of today's staple instruments have fallen out of use. It is for this reason that the most consistent element of Dune's music is the human voice, which is the only musical instrument guaranteed to survive millennia of human development.
Related: Dune 2: Villeneuve's Harkonnen Tease Makes The Sequel Even More Exciting
However, one very recognizable sound in Dune's music comes from the bagpipes that are used to represent House Atreides, protagonist Paul's family and one of the narrative's significant political powers. During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Villeneuve reveals that this aspect was actually his idea, which he had after realizing he needed something to represent Atreides culture during the scene in which they first arrive on the desert planet Arrakis. The director believes this decision earned him Zimmer's respect, who conceded that bagpipes could survive to the year 10,000. Check out Villeneuve's full
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