With the unveiling of the Academy’s shortlists, we now know the first-ever ten films in final contention for the new category, Best Casting. For months, we’ve been left to speculate how this category would shape up. Would it simply mirror the Best Picture nominees or just seek to acknowledge the biggest casts of the year, as we often see at the SAG Awards? Or could it be its own thing entirely? The answer is a mix of both.
While it’s true that nine of the ten finalists are all looking like nabbing a Best Picture nomination, the casting branch ignored large, big-name ensemble casts from films like Wake Up Dead Man and Jay Kelly (sorry, Netflix) that many of us expected to be shortlisted. And they honoured three non-English language features, including the surprise inclusion of Sirāt.
But their biggest shock was Weapons landing a spot here. Not that it doesn’t entirely deserve to be here. Given the film’s structure of following the perspective of each character, getting the casting right was integral to the film’s overall success. And Allison Jones nailed it, especially given she basically had to recast the entire film after the actors’ strike upended production. Clearly, those in the know within the casting branch knew this backstory and rightfully sought to give Jones her recognition.
Does that mean Jones could make it into the Academy’s final five? Absolutely, but, for the moment, I’m playing it safe with five Best Picture nominees instead. Even with a shortlist, it’s still kind of impossible to predict the very first nominees of a new category. The Casting Society will unveil its nominees in the new year, which may bring some more clarity.
BEST CASTING PREDICTIONS:
1. One Battle After Another – Cassandra Kulukundis (Warner Bros.) – CCA
2. Sinners – Francine Maisler (Warner Bros.) – CCA
3. Hamnet – Nina Gold (Focus Features) – CCA
4. Sentimental Value – Yngvill Kolset Haga and Avy Kaufman
5. Wicked: For Good – Tiffany Little Canfield & Bernard Telsey (Universal Pictures) – CCA
IN CONTENTION:
Frankenstein – Robin D. Cook (Netflix)
Marty Supreme – Jennifer Venditti (A24) – CCA
The Secret Agent – Gabriel Domingues (NEON)
Sirāt – Nadia Acimi & Luis Bértolo (NEON)
Weapons – Allison Jones (Warner Bros.)
