Daniel Pemberton Chases a First Oscar in a Brutal Score Race

Daniel Pemberton has six films in contention for this season's Best Original Score Oscar, more than any rival in the race. Yet the English composer's only Academy Award nomination to date came as a songwriter, for "Hear My Voice" from "The Trial of the Chicago 7" (2020). Variety's prediction update of Nov. 10, 2026, curated by chief awards editor Clayton Davis, asks whether this could finally be his year.

Pemberton's credits include "Steve Jobs" (2015), "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" (2018) and "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" (2023). This season he scored "The Bad Guys 2," "The Drama," "Ink," "Masters of the Universe," "Musk" and "Project Hail Mary." He has already collected one honor: the Distinguished Composer Award at the Middleburg Film Festival, where he performed live with a full orchestra and, in Davis's words, brought the Salamander Resort "to its feet."

Who stands in his way?

Ludwig Göransson arrives with a perfect record. The 42-year-old Swedish-born composer of "The Odyssey" has won three Oscars from three attempts: "Black Panther" (2018), "Oppenheimer" (2023) and "Sinners" (2025).

Hans Zimmer returns after being ruled ineligible for "Dune: Part Two." The German composer, who won his second Oscar for "Dune" (2021) after a long-overdue first for "The Lion King" (1994), has reportedly developed new, original cues for Denis Villeneuve's conclusion, due in December.

John Williams cannot be counted out. At 94, he is collaborating again with Steven Spielberg on the sci-fi drama "Disclosure Day." He holds 54 nominations, second only to Walt Disney, and is the oldest Academy Award nominee in any category — a record he has broken three times himself, most recently at 91 with "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" (2023).

What does this change for the race?

Variety notes that "Project Hail Mary," shaping up as a major across-the-board nominee, faces a technical duel with "Dune: Part Three" and "The Odyssey." The score category has historically served as a consolation prize for Best Picture contenders, with precedent in "Atonement" (Dario Marianelli, 2007), "Babel" (Gustavo Santaolalla, 2006), "Finding Neverland" (Jan A.P. Kaczmarek, 2004) and "The Full Monty" (Anne Dudley, 1997).

Newcomers could still disrupt the field:

• Raül Refree — "La Bola Negra"
• Damon Albarn — "Artificial"
• Ari Balouzian — "You Can See Everything"
• Devonté Hynes — "The Invite"

Veterans Randy Newman ("Toy Story 5"), Michael Giacchino ("Ray Gunn") and Alberto Iglesias ("Bitter Christmas") could also emerge.

Female composers remain underrepresented in the conversation, but Variety flags five to watch: Rebekka Karijord ("Tenzing"), Natalie Holt ("Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom"), Hildur Guðnadóttir ("28 Years Later: The Bone Temple"), Isobel Waller-Bridge ("The Unknown") and Tara Nome Doyle ("Rose").

The calendar ahead

The Governors Awards, honoring Glenn Close and Ridley Scott, take place Sunday, Nov. 15. Preliminary voting for the 12 shortlist categories runs Dec. 7–11, with shortlists announced Tuesday, Dec. 15. The eligibility period closes Dec. 31, 2026; nominations voting runs Jan. 11–15, 2027, with nominees named Thursday, Jan. 21, 2027. Conan O'Brien hosts the 99th Oscars on Sunday, March 14, 2027, live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on ABC and in more than 200 territories.

Davis cautions that it is only November and the race remains fluid — meaning Pemberton's moment, however close it looks today, is far from settled.