In the wake of that struck at the heart of the movie industry, nominations to the are going forward Thursday morning after a pair of delays.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences will announce the nominations Thursday at 8:30am ET via a wide array of platforms, including on Oscar.com, Oscars.org, the academy's social network sites, ABC's 鈥淕ood Morning America,鈥� as well as on Disney+ and Hulu. Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott will read the nominees.
The Oscar nominations had originally been planned for Jan. 17. But after wildfires on Jan. 7 began burning through the Pacific Palisades, Altadena and other areas around Los Angeles, leaving behind historic levels of destruction, the academy extended its voting window and twice postponed the nominations announcement.
With so many in the film industry reeling from the fires, some called on the academy to cancel the Oscars altogether. Academy leaders have argued the March 2 ceremony must go ahead, for their economic impact on Los Angeles and as a symbol of resilience for the industry. Organizers have vowed this year's awards will 鈥渃elebrate the work that unites us as a global film community and acknowledge those who fought so bravely against the wildfires.鈥�
鈥淲e will reflect on the recent events while highlighting the strength, creativity, and optimism that defines Los Angeles and our industry,鈥� Bill Kramer, academy chief executive, and Janet Yang, president, said in an email to members Wednesday.
But much of the usual frothiness Hollywood's award season has been , which continue to burn. The film academy canceled its annual nominees luncheon. Other events have been postponed or downsized. On Wednesday, Kramer and Yang said original song nominees won't be performed this year. , whose Pacific Palisades home was spared by the fires, .
Here are some of the things to look for Thursday:
How wide open is it?
Usually by this time, one or two movies have emerged as the clear favorites for best picture. Not so this year. Four films have been nominated for the top award from , the Directors Guild and : 鈥淎nora,鈥� 鈥淐onclave,鈥� 鈥淓milia P茅rez鈥� and 鈥淎 Complete Unknown.鈥�
They are likely to be joined Thursday by Golden Globe-winner 鈥淭he Brutalist,鈥� the musical blockbuster 鈥淲icked鈥� and the sci-fi sequel 鈥淒une: Part Two.鈥� In the category's 10 films, that leaves slots expected for 鈥淎 Real Pain鈥� and 鈥淭he Substance.鈥� The last spot could go to the prison drama 鈥淪ing Sing,鈥� the journalism drama 鈥淪eptember 5鈥� or the POV-shot 鈥淣ickel Boys.鈥�
Of them all, Netflix's contender 鈥淓milia P茅rez鈥� could land the most nominations of all, and, possibly, set a new high mark for non-English language films.
Who gets left out in best actress?
As is often the case, best actress is extremely competitive. Most prognosticators expect nominations for Demi Moore ("The Substance"), Cynthia Erivo ("Wicked"), Mikey Madison ("Anora") and Karla Sof铆a Gasc贸n (鈥淓milia P茅rez鈥�). Who gets the fifth slot could go to Fernanda Torres (鈥淚鈥檓 Still Here"), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (鈥淗ard Truths鈥�) or Pamela Anderson ("The Last Showgirl鈥�). And that still leaves out Nicole Kidman (鈥淏abygirl鈥�) and Angelina Jolie (鈥淢aria鈥�).
Who could make history?
Gasc贸n, the star of Jacques Audiard's 鈥淓milia P茅rez," is poised to become the first openly transgender actor nominated for an Oscar. Gasc贸n, who plays both a male drug lord in the film and the woman she becomes, has spoken both passionately and sanguinely at a time with trans rights are imperiled.
鈥淚f it does happen, I would be so grateful,鈥� Gasc贸n said last fall. 鈥淚t would be a beautiful thing. But if it doesn鈥檛, whatever. I鈥檇 go back to my old life. I鈥檒l do my grocery shopping. I鈥檒l play with cats. I鈥檒l see my family. Maybe I鈥檒l do other jobs and people will like those jobs.鈥�
With Trump now in office, will 鈥楾he Apprentice鈥� be nominated?
One of 2024's most audacious films, dramatized the formative years of s emergence in New York real estate under the tutelage of attorney Roy Cohn. Both Sebastian Stan (who plays Trump) and Jeremy Strong (Cohn) are borderline contenders for best actor and best supporting actor, respectively. Trump has called those involved with the film 鈥渉uman scum.鈥�
Will best director be all male again?
For most of Oscar history, the best director category has been all male. That's changed somewhat in recent years, with wins by ("The Power of the Dog") and ("Nomadland"). But this year may see another all-male group of Audiard ("Emilia P茅rez"), Sean Baker (鈥淎nora鈥�), Edward Berger ("Conclave"), Brady Corbet ("The Brutalist") and James Mangold ("A Complete Unknown").
The two most likely female contenders are (鈥淎ll We Imagine as Light鈥�) and (鈥淭he Substance鈥�). Also in the mix are a pair of big-budget filmmakers in (鈥淲icked鈥�) and (鈥淒une: Part Two鈥�).
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Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
