Corona | Coming Attractions

And just like that the two composers behind the score for The Dark Knight are back in the running for an Oscar.

Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard's epic music for this summer's superhero blockbuster had originally been excluded from the upcoming Academy Award list of possible Oscar winners due to five musicians listed on the credits. Even with a signed statement from the three musicians that worked with Zimmer and Howard stating that the duo were responsible for creating at least 80% of the original music found in The Dark Knight, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ruled that the film's score could not be considered in the Best Original Score category for the 2008 Oscars. Generally the Academy won't allow any film scores credited to more than two composers to be in the running for the category, which is where The Dark Knight's score originally wound up.

However, the Academy has now reversed its previous ruling after reconsidering the case and the Zimmer/Howard score can be among the potential Oscar candidates -- that is, if it makes the cut from the upcoming nomination process. The 81st Academy Awards ceremony will take place on February 22, 2009.