Oscars Snub Solo Because John Powell Looks Nothing Like Young John Williams
It’s official — Solo is a no-go at the Oscars. The Star Wars spin-off film has been disqualified from competing in the Original Song and Original Score categories because of a technicality. Unfortunately for Lucasfilm, a little-known new stipulation exclusive to Star Wars film scores requires the composer to look and sound like young John Williams.
“It’s not enough to ape the iconic themes created by Williams. In order for us to consider a Star Wars film score for an Oscar, whomever is credited must closely resemble the master composer either in his youth or in his prime,” said an Academy spokesperson.
Solo: A Star Wars Story lists John Powell as composer and features themes by Williams. So essentially, Powell would have to mimic Williams’ physical appearance. No small feat, considering the 55-year old Powell stands 5’5” while the celebrated composer is 6 feet tall.
To make matters worse, Lucasfilm was told of the stipulation on November 12, a mere three days before the deadline to enter Solo in the Original Song and Original Score categories. With only 72 hours, Powell made a valiant effort to become John Williams. Not only did the Happy Feet composer shave his head and swap out his transitional eyeglasses for Williams’ style bifocals, he also borrowed a pair of lifts from Robert Downey Jr.’s personal collection.
In the end, the John Williams makeover proved too little, too late as Academy representatives felt Powell did not resemble the Oscar-winning composer closely enough. “He could maybe pass for a distant relative, but even then, the voice was all wrong,” said our Oscar source.
On a somewhat brighter note: Powell is said to have looked more like a young Williams than Alden Ehrenreich looked like a young Harrison Ford. And, for the record, Solo was not solo in disqualification. Green Book, Mandy and The Other Side of the Wind were also taken out of the running for various reasons.
Ofthe 300 songs entered, only 70 managed to qualify per the Academy’s strict requirements. Members will announce their shortlists on Dec. 17. Powell will be watching dressed in a black turtleneck, with baton in hand, since he’s committed to the Williams look through the end of the month.
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