Considering the source material, the upcoming Dune film is expected to be grand in scale and ambition. In order to fit the large-scale epic of Dune, legendary film composer Hans Zimmer has written a second original score for the highly anticipated film's making-of book.
The book, titled The Art and Soul of Dune, is written by executive producer Tanya Lapointe and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the upcoming blockbuster. Each chapter of the book will feature creative concepts, from visual effects creation to costume and environmental designs, while also having interviews with the director Denis Villeneuve and some of the cast members, including Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya. Zimmer's second score will be available to purchase and stream on the same release date of the film and the book (October 22).
There will also be a special limited edition of The Art and Soul of Dune that will include other exclusive material such as 80 pages of never before seen art from the film, design upgrades like a cloth cover with House Atreides symbols stamped on, new on-set photos taken by the film's cinematographer Greg Frasier, and Josh Brolin's perspective of working on the production. On top of that, the first 700 copies of the limited edition that are purchased will have a signed and numbered signature card, individually inscribed by Villeneuve, Lapointe, Chalamet, Brolin, and Fraser.
Zimmer, being a long-time fan of the original 1965 Dune novel by Frank Herbert, felt inspired to create a separate score to fit the scope of the story. Ahead of Zimmer's score for The Art and Soul of Dune, his first score/original motion picture soundtrack for Dune will be released on Sept. 17. In a recent interview, Zimmer opened up about the creative process behind the upcoming film's music. "Denis and I agreed that the female characters in the film drive the story. So the score is based on mainly female voices. We developed our own language. The musicianship is extraordinary, and this is not your normal orchestral score," he said. Villeneuve added that in order to bring a spiritual quality to the film and its music, Zimmer explored numerous sounds and created various instruments. Judging by Dune's second trailer, which was released not too long ago, it seems that Zimmer has captured that sound that Villeneuve was referring to.
This score will be the first time Zimmer has ever written original music for a book. The German film composer's unique blend of electronic music and loud bass with traditional orchestral compositions has created thrilling scores for major blockbusters like The Dark Knight trilogy, The Pirates of the Caribbean films, Gladiator, Inception, The Lion King, and many more.
Zimmer today is considered one of the greatest composers ever as his iconic scores, similar to John Williams, have seeped into the minds of many and have never left. It will be no surprise when Zimmer's hot streak of thrilling scores continues with Dune.
Dune will have its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in early September and is set to release in theatres and for streaming on HBO Max on October 22, 2021.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter