‘Wicked’ Tops SAG Awards Nominations

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Hit musical “Wicked” topped the nominations Wednesday for the influential Screen Actors Guild Awards, which are key to Oscars glory, while Golden Globes darling “The Brutalist” only got one nod and “Maria” star Angelina Jolie was shut out.

“Wicked”, the big-screen adaptation of the Broadway smash, earned five nods including for “outstanding performance by a cast” — the top SAG Awards prize — lead actress, supporting actor and actress, and stunt ensemble.

Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” scored four nominations while surreal narco-musical “Emilia Perez”, a major winner at Sunday’s Globes, scored three nods.

Those three films will battle with Cannes favorite “Anora”, which also had three nominations, and papal thriller “Conclave” for the top cast award, organizers announced.

There was no place in “The Brutalist,” a grand immigrant drama about a Hungarian architect who survives the Holocaust and immigrates to the United States, despite receiving one nomination from Globes winner Adrien Brody.

Hollywood actors vote for the SAG Awards, which is the largest segment of the Academy’s voting bloc for the Oscars.

(L-R) Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande accept the National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City on January 7, 2025. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Therefore, the awards are closely monitored as indicators of potential Academy Award winners.

Jolie’s inability to win a SAG nomination for her portrayal of opera diva Maria Callas in “Maria” may not be in good shape for her chances of winning an Oscar.

Vying for lead actress honors with “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo will be Globes winner Demi Moore for body horror film “The Substance”, Pamela Anderson (“The Last Showgirl”), Karla Sofia Gascon (“Emilia Perez”) and Mikey Madison (“Anora”).

Also left out in that stacked category was Nicole Kidman, who earned critical acclaim for her turn in the steamy “Babygirl”, and Globes winner Fernanda Torres, for “I’m Still Here” about Brazil’s military dictatorship.

In “Conclave,” Brody will face Ralph Fiennes in the lead role, Timothee Chalamet in “A Complete Unknown,” Daniel Craig in “Queer,” and Colman Domingo in “Sing Sing.”

“Wicked” had a difficult night at the Golden Globes, only winning the award for cinematic and box office achievement, but it came roaring back in the SAG nominations, with Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey earning individual nods.

The SAG Awards also honor television, with Japanese historical drama “Shogun” — already a big winner at the Emmys and Golden Globes — leading with five nominations.

The SAG Awards will be held on February 23 in Los Angeles, and Netflix will be streaming live for the second year in a row.

Due to the devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area, the live nominations ceremony on Wednesday was postponed.

The Critics Choice Awards’ Gala will be postponed due to the blazes, organizers later on Wednesday told AFP.

DGA nominations

Hollywood’s directors ‘ guild also announced its own nominations on Wednesday.

The shortlist includes 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”.

Jon Chu was shut out for “Wicked”.