“Wicked” led the nominations for the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards, securing five nominations, including best ensemble and individual recognitions for stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jonathan Bailey.
Due to uncontrollable wildfires that struck Los Angeles and Southern California on Tuesday night, the Screen Actors Guild was forced to cancel its live nomination announcement initially scheduled for Wednesday. Instead, the nominations were released via a press statement, with SAG continuing its multi-year streaming partnership with Netflix.
The musical “Wicked” has strengthened its Oscar prospects following the SAG nominations, which are frequently seen as a reliable indicator for the Academy Awards. It even garnered a nod for stunt ensemble, marking a successful day after also being acknowledged by the National Board of Review Awards in New York on Tuesday.
Alongside “Wicked,” the other nominees for best ensemble included “Anora,” “Conclave,” “Emilia Pérez,” and “A Complete Unknown.” Notably, “A Complete Unknown,” a Bob Dylan drama, performed strongly with four nominations, including one for Timothée Chalamet as best male actor.
The best male lead nominees featured well-known names such as Adrien Brody for “The Brutalist,” Daniel Craig for “Queer,” Colman Domingo for “Sing Sing,” Ralph Fiennes for “Conclave,” and Chalamet. Meanwhile, Demi Moore, riding high from her Golden Globe win, received a nomination for best female actor in “The Substance,” competing against Erivo, breakout star Karla Sofía Gascón from “Emilia Pérez,” Mikey Madison from “Anora,” and Pamela Anderson for “The Last Showgirl.”
While many celebrated the nominations, some notable omissions included Angelina Jolie for “Maria,” Nicole Kidman for “Babygirl,” Marianne Jean-Baptiste for “Hard Truths,” and Fernanda Torres, who won a Globe for “I’m Still Here.”
In the supporting categories, Jeremy Strong was recognized for his portrayal of Roy Cohn in “The Apprentice.” However, his co-star Sebastian Stan was overlooked alongside other expected nominees like Denzel Washington for “Gladiator II” and Guy Pearce for “The Brutalist.”
The SAG Awards are particularly influential when it comes to predicting the Oscars. Historically, winners of the best ensemble title, such as “Oppenheimer,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” and “CODA,” went on to secure the best picture Oscar. Despite the success of “Wicked,” the absence of a DGA nomination for the film may hinder its chances for the Academy’s top prize, a pattern reflected in past winners.
In television, FX’s “Shōgun” also had a stellar showing with five nominations, including best ensemble and individual nods for its cast members. Other notable shows that performed well included “The Bear,” which earned nominations for stars Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, and Liza Colón-Zayas.
The Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony is set to take place on February 23 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, hosted by Kristen Bell, and will be streamed live on Netflix. Additionally, Jane Fonda will be honored with the guild’s Life Achievement Award.
This year’s nominations showcase the depth and breadth of talent across both film and television, highlighting the vibrant landscape of the entertainment industry. The ability to spotlight both celebrated figures and newcomers suggests an exciting future for storytelling, with opportunities for diverse voices to shine.
Overall, the SAG nominations not only reflect current trends in the film and television landscape but also signal an exciting build-up to the Academy Awards, offering a period of anticipation and pride in the artistry of the industry.