Evil composer Stephen Schwartz and Demon Hunters composer Mark Sonnenblick are set to take on each other at the upcoming Academy Awards.
In early 2025, Schwartz and Sonnenblick had a mentor-mantee relationship, which has now turned into a friendly rivalry.
The couple met through the ASCAP Foundational Musical Theater Workshop, where Schwartz, the Academy Award winner with scores from Evil, Godspelland Pippin helped Sonnenblick in his work.
Now both have landed on the Oscar shortlist for Best Original Song and have won Golden Globe nominations and are pitting their tracks against each other.
Schwartz wrote two new original songs Wicked: Too GoodCynthia Erivo’s No place like home and Ariana Grande The girl in the bubble.
Meanwhile, Sonnenblick co-wrote Golden, the breakout hit K-pop demon hunters. The song has spent weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Earlier, Schwartz revealed his reaction to earning two Golden Globe nominations for his songs.
He revealed that he had forgotten about the Golden Globes until he got a text from director Jon M. Chu congratulating him on his two nominations.
“I obviously couldn’t think of anyone better to have heard from,” Schwartz said.
Sonnenblick has not publicly spoken out against his mentor.
The Golden Globe Awards will air on January 11, 2026, while the Academy Awards will premiere live on March 15, 2026.
