Oscars Predictions: Original Score – Will Thomas Newman Garner His 16th Career Nom for ‘Elemental?’

VarietyAwards Circuitsection is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

OSCARS | EMMYS | GRAMMYS | TONYS

2024 Oscars Predictions:

Best Original Score

Society of the Snow Weekly Commentary (Updated Nov. 7, 2023): Renowned composer Thomas Newman has been nominated for 15 Academy Awards, tying him with fellow composer Alex North for the most without a win. Those losses include American Beauty (1999), Road to Perdition (2022), Finding Nemo (2003), WALL-E (2008) and 1917 (2019). Theres also the double nom year of The Shawshank Redemption (1994) and Little Women. Sooner rather than later, right?

In Pixars Elemental, he captures the essence of a story through the music, something that has made him one of the most sought-after composers in the industry.

Hell be battling with the likes of Oscar winner Ludwig Gransson for his bombastic work on Oppenheimer, and the growing sentiment for the late Robbie Robertson, who scored Killers of the Flower Moon. Theres also other animated movie competitors such as Daniel Pembertons stunning chords on Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

This will be a tough race to call all season long.

Read:VarietysAwards Circuit for the latest Oscars predictions in all categories.

The submission deadline for general categories is Nov. 18, 2023. Preliminary shortlist voting will begin on Dec. 18, with the results announced on Dec. 21. The voting period will run from Jan. 11-16, 2024, with the official nominations announcement on Jan. 23.

The 96th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 10.

***The list below is not final and will be updated throughout the awards season.

And the Predicted Nominees Are: Ludwig Gransson Oppenheimer (Universal Pictures)Robbie Robertson Killers of the Flower Moon (Apple Original Films/Paramount Pictures)Jerskin Fendrix Poor Things (Searchlight Pictures)Kris Bowers Origin (Neon)Michael Giacchino Society of the Snow (Netflix) Next in Line Daniel Pemberton Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Sony Pictures)Thomas Newman Elemental (Pixar)Laura Karpman American Fiction (MGM)Anthony Willis Saltburn (Amazon MGM Studios)Christopher Bear, Daniel Rossen Past Lives (A24) Other Top-Tier Possibilities Mica Levi The Zone of Interest (A24)Hans Zimmer The Creator (20th Century Studios)John Williams Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Walt Disney Pictures)Joe Hisaishi The Boy and the Heron (GKids)David Metzger Wish (Walt Disney Pictures) Alexandre Desplat Asteroid City (Focus Features)Martin Phipps Napoleon (Apple Original Films/Sony Pictures)Daniel Pemberton Ferrari (Neon)Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross The Killer (Netflix)Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch All of Us Strangers (Searchlight Pictures) Also In Contention Hans Zimmer Are You There God? Its Me, Margaret (Lionsgate)Alexandre Desplat The Boys in the Boat (MGM)Alexandre Desplat Nyad (Netflix) Branford Marsalis Rustin (Netflix)Richard Reed Parry The Iron Claw (A24)Will Bates Dumb Money (Sony Pictures)Alexandre Desplat The Boys in the Boat (MGM)Hildur Gunadttir A Haunting in Venice (20th Century Studios)Philip Glass, Paul Leonard-Morgan The Pigeon Tunnel (Apple Original Films)Marcelo Zarvos Flamin Hot (Hulu/Searchlight Pictures) All Eligible Titles (Alphabetized by Studio)** A Haunting in Venice (20th Century Studios) Hildur GunadttirThe Creator (20th Century Studios) Hans ZimmerBeau is Afraid (A24) Bobby KrlicThe Iron Claw (A24) Richard Reed ParryPast Lives (A24) Christopher Bear, Daniel Rossen Priscilla (A24) PhoenixThe Zone of Interest (A24) Mica LeviThe Burial (Amazon MGM Studios) Michael AbelsCassandro (Amazon MGM Studios) Marcelo ZarvosFoe (Amazon MGM Studios) Park Jiha, Oliver Coates, Agnes ObelSaltburn (Amazon MGM Studios) Anthony WillisFingernails (Apple Original Films) Christopher StraceyFlora and Son (Apple Original Films) Gary Clark, John CarneyKillers of the Flower Moon (Apple Original Films/Paramount Pictures) Robbie RobertsonNapoleon (Apple Original Films/Sony Pictures) Martin PhippsThe Pigeon Tunnel (Apple Original Films) Philip Glass, Paul Leonard-MorganGolda (Bleecker Street) Dascha DauenhauerAsteroid City (Focus Features) Alexandre Desplat The Boy and the Heron (GKids) Joe HisaishiBlackBerry (IFC Films) Jay McCarrolFlamin Hot (Hulu/Searchlight Pictures) Marcelo ZarvosStory Ave (Kino Lorber) Pierre CharlesAre You There God? Its Me, Margaret (Lionsgate) Hans ZimmerThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Lionsgate) James Newton HowardJoy Ride (Lionsgate) Nathan Matthew DavidKokomo City (Magnolia Pictures) D. SmithGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Marvel Studios) John MurphyThe Marvels (Marvel Studios) Laura KarpmanAmerican Fiction (MGM) Laura KarpmanBottoms (MGM/Orion) Charli XCX, Leo BirenbergThe Boys in the Boat (MGM) Alexandre DesplatGuy Ritchies The Covenant (MGM) Chris BensteadThe Mission (National Geographic) Danny Bensi, Saunder JurriaansEileen (Neon) Richard Reed ParryAmerican Symphony (Netflix) Jon BatisteThe Deepest Breath (Netflix) Nainita DesaiFair Play (Netflix) Brian McOmber The Killer (Netflix) Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross Leave the World Behind (Netflix) Mac QuayleNyad (Netflix) Alexandre DesplatRebel Moon (Netflix) Tom HolkenborgRustin (Netflix) Branford Marsalis Society of the Snow (Netflix) Michael Giacchino Origin (Neon) Kris BowersDungeons Dragons (Paramount Pictures) Lorne BalfeTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Paramount Pictures) Trent Reznor, Atticus RossElemental (Pixar) Thomas NewmanSomewhere in Queens (Roadside Attractions) Mark OrtonAll of Us Strangers (Searchlight Pictures) Emilie Levienaise-FarrouchNext Goal Wins (Searchlight Pictures) Michael GiacchinoPoor Things (Searchlight Pictures) Jerskin FendrixDumb Money (Sony Pictures) Will BatesSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Sony Pictures) Daniel PembertonA Little Prayer (Sony Pictures Classics) Greg DannerThe Teachers Lounge (Sony Pictures Classics) Marvin MillerFerrari (Neon) Daniel Pemberton Oppenheimer (Universal Pictures) Ludwig Gransson She Came to Me (Vertical Entertainment) Bryce DessnerBarbie (Warner Bros.) Mark Ronson, Andrew WyattBlue Beetle (Warner Bros.) Bobby KrlicThe Color Purple (Warner Bros.) Kris BowersWonka (Warner Bros.) Joby Talbot Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Walt Disney Pictures) John WilliamsThe Little Mermaid (Walt Disney Pictures) Alan Menken Wish (Walt Disney Pictures) David Metzger 2022 category winner: All Quiet on the Western Front (Netflix) Volker Bertelmann

** indicates an unconfirmed release date in 2023 or could campaign in the lead or supporting categories. All release dates are subject to change.

Oscars Predictions Categories BEST PICTURE | DIRECTOR | BEST ACTOR | BEST ACTRESS | SUPPORTING ACTOR | SUPPORTING ACTRESS | ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY | ADAPTED SCREENPLAY | ANIMATED FEATURE | PRODUCTION DESIGN | CINEMATOGRAPHY | COSTUME DESIGN | FILM EDITING | MAKEUP HAIRSTYLING | SOUND | VISUAL EFFECTS | ORIGINAL SCORE | ORIGINAL SONG | DOCUMENTARY FEATURE | INTERNATIONAL FEATURE | ANIMATED SHORT | DOCUMENTARY SHORT | LIVE ACTION SHORT

About the Academy Awards The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, is Hollywoods most prestigious artistic award in the film industry. Since 1927, nominees and winners have been selected by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Seventeen branches are represented within the nearly 10,000-person membership. The branches are actors, associates, casting directors, cinematographers, costume designers, directors, documentary, executives, film editors, makeup and hairstylists, marketing and public relations, members-at-large, members-at-large (artists representatives), music, producers, production design, short films and feature animation, sound, visual effects and writers.