When Charli xcx was announced as the soundtracking artist behind Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights” adaptation, a fair few heads were scratched. Charli is celebrated for her experimental hyperpop punchiness and so isn’t perhaps the natural fit for the slow-paced fogginess of the period drama. But with the release of both the film and soundtrack album earlier this year, the fog dispersed and the vision became clear; now the abrasive sounds of Charli xcx and the moody murkiness of Wuthering Heights appear harmonious.
This collaboration got me thinking about other soundtrack albums throughout the years. Back in 2023 we had the Barbie film, whose soundtrack featured 21 artists collaborating for a positively pink performance, and more recently we saw the music for the KPOP Demon Hunters film awarded at the 2026 Oscars. The soundtrack album isn’t just a modern phenomenon, though. Back at the turn of the century, Phil Collins also won an Oscar for his song ‘You’ll Be In My Heart’, which came from his soundtrack for Disney’s animated film ‘Tarzan’.
So the soundtrack album has a well-proven record and historical legacy…but what about the future? That’s where you come in!
We’re going to play a round of ‘Fantasy soundtracking’, giving you the chance to Musix-matchmake some upcoming films with artists of your choice. We want to hear your suggestions (either serious or silly) of which artist would make a great soundtrack for the films, alongside your explanation for why. Imagine you are the casting musical director, and this is your pitch to the film crew.
You can pick from these upcoming films, or choose one of your own…
The Odyssey
Toy Story 5
Dune: Messiah
The Devil Wears Prada 2
…and when you’re ready, make your case via this form.
We’ll look forward to reading through your ideas! Stay tuned for a summary next month.
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I already knew we had a community full of talented creatives, and it was great to see them having their say last month! We received many suggestions for fantasy soundtracking collaborations, including from Amelia, one of our Swedish Specialists, who had some ideas for the upcoming sequel to the Devil Wears Prada.
“When I saw "The Devil Wears Prada 2" mentioned, my mind instantly went, "OMG! Gaga would fit in so well in the soundtrack" considering how fashionable she is and that she has a role in the movie”
It’s a great point! Such a great point, in fact, that the film’s production team seems to have had the same idea! Lady Gaga, alongside Doechii, announced 'RUNWAY' earlier this month, just a few days after Amelia’s fantasy suggestion, and it’s everything we hoped and dreamed a DWP2 song would be!
Amelia also named Zara Larsson and Charli xcx as potential collaborators, “considering they're some of the biggest pop artists at the moment”, and again - we agree! Both Zara Larsson and Charli xcx are fashion-forward stars who’d no doubt make a great addition to the film’s musical team. Charli may well want a bit of a break, though, so soon after the Wuthering Heights project!
We also received ideas for the upcoming fifth installment of the Toy Story film franchise. Gbjockey suggests Mitski would be a good fit due to her tendency to write raw and emotional lyrics, centering on the complexity of human relationships. They playfully note: “All the toys are being left behind AGAIN the trauma and hurt would be so immense”. We're, of course, yet to see exactly what will go down in Toy Story 5, but we have no doubt that anything Mitski touches would be golden!
Finally for now, Isa Salisu had some thoughts about potential directions for the upcoming Dune film: 'Messiah'. They thought Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross would be great soundtracking artists "because the story (of Dune: Messiah) isn’t about spectacle anymore, it’s about consequences. While Hans Zimmer built the epic world, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross specialize in tension, minimalism, and psychological depth. They would shift the sound from myth to mindset", making us feel the characters' emotions and situations, rather than just witnessing them. It's another great suggestion, and a very carefully worded one at that, detailed enough to make and prove the point, but not too specific as to give any spoilers!
Generally, we’re excited to see what musical decisions are ultimately made for all films released throughout the year. Wuthering Heights and Charli xcx have proven that a well-chosen pairing can benefit all parties involved, so we can expect many more exciting collaborations to come. Watch this space!
