Musical sensation “Wicked” has emerged as the frontrunner at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, securing five nominations despite a modest showing at the Golden Globes. The Broadway adaptation’s strong performance at the SAG nominations marks a significant turnaround, positioning it as a serious contender in the upcoming awards season.
The film garnered nominations across major categories, including the prestigious “outstanding performance by a cast” award, alongside individual recognition for its stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jonathan Bailey. This comprehensive recognition comes just days after the film’s sole Golden Globes win in the cinematic and box office achievement category.
Competing for top honors alongside “Wicked” are Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” with four nominations, surreal narco-musical “Emilia Perez” with three nods, Cannes favorite “Anora,” and papal thriller “Conclave.” Notably absent from the ensemble category was “The Brutalist,” which managed only one nomination for Golden Globe winner Adrien Brody.
The nominations delivered several surprising omissions, including Angelina Jolie’s portrayal of Maria Callas in “Maria” and Nicole Kidman’s acclaimed performance in “Babygirl.” The lead actress category instead features Demi Moore for “The Substance,” Pamela Anderson for “The Last Showgirl,” Karla Sofia Gascon for “Emilia Perez,” and Mikey Madison for “Anora” alongside Erivo.
The lead actor race presents an equally compelling lineup, with Ralph Fiennes (“Conclave”), Timothée Chalamet (“A Complete Unknown”), Daniel Craig (“Queer”), and Colman Domingo (“Sing Sing”) joining Brody in the competition.
In television, the Japanese historical drama “Shogun” continued its awards season dominance, matching “Wicked” with five nominations. This follows its recent success at both the Emmy Awards and Golden Globes.
The announcement coincides with the Directors Guild of America releasing its own nominations, featuring Sean Baker for “Anora,” Jacques Audiard for “Emilia Perez,” Edward Berger for “Conclave,” Brady Corbet for “The Brutalist,” and James Mangold for “A Complete Unknown.” Notably absent was “Wicked” director Jon Chu, adding another layer of intrigue to the film’s awards season journey.
The SAG Awards, scheduled for February 23 in Los Angeles, will stream live on Netflix for the second consecutive year. However, the devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area have already impacted the awards season, forcing the cancellation of the live nomination announcements and postponement of the upcoming Critics Choice Awards.
The SAG Awards hold particular significance in predicting Oscar success, as actors comprise the largest voting branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This strong showing for “Wicked” could signal a potential shift in its awards season momentum, despite its underwhelming performance at the Golden Globes.
As Hollywood navigates both the awards season and natural disasters, the SAG nominations have set the stage for what promises to be an unpredictable and exciting race to the Academy Awards. The recognition of both established stars and emerging talents across various genres reflects the diverse landscape of contemporary cinema, while the strong showing for musical adaptations suggests a continuing appetite for theatrical spectacle in film.
