In the last decade or so, the Academy has flipped between bestowing Best Production Design to either a sci-fi/fantasy epic or a period piece. For the moment, it would appear they’ll honour the former. Yes, it’s another category where Denis Villeneuve’s Dune sits in the pole position. But it’s probably the one category where its chances appear shakiest at present.
If there’s a strong challenger in this category, it’s Guillermo del Toro’s as-yet-unseen noir thriller Nightmare Alley. With its 1940s setting, the production design already looks ultra glamourous and luxurious, which are certainly qualities that usually win the Academy’s favour. Two of del Toro’s films have won this prize in the past, so there’s a strong chance a third is on the way.
Auteur Wes Anderson is known for the meticulously designed aesthetic of his films, and The French Dispatch is no exception. It’s another explosion of quirky, twee sets and props, so a nomination here seems all but assured. Production designer Adam Stockhausen won this category back in 2014 for The Grand Budapest Hotel, so the pedigree is there.
Also firmly in the mix are West Side Story, Licorice Pizza, Belfast, House of Gucci, Cruella, The Tragedy of Macbeth, and Spencer. And maybe keep an eye on Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, if Disney decides to really push it across the board.
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN PREDICTIONS:
1. Dune (Warner Bros.)
Patrice Vermette (production designer), Richard Roberts and Zsuzsanna Sipos (set decorators)
2. Nightmare Alley (Searchlight Pictures)
Tamara Deverell (production designer), Shane Vieau (set decorator)
3. The French Dispatch (Searchlight Pictures)
Adam Stockhausen (production designer), Rena DeAngelo (set decorator)
4. West Side Story (20th Century Studios)
Adam Stockhausen (production designer), Rena DeAngelo (set decorator)
5. Licorice Pizza (MGM)
Florencia Martin (production designer), Ryan Watson (set decorator)
IN CONTENTION
Being the Ricardos (Amazon Studios)
Jon Hutman (production designer), Ellen Brill (set decorator)
Belfast (Focus Features)
Jim Clay (production designer), Claire Nia Richards (set decorator)
Cruella (Disney)
Fiona Crombie (production designer), Alice Felton (set decorator)
Cyrano (MGM)
Sarah Greenwood (production designer), Katie Spencer (set decorator)
House of Gucci (MGM)
Arthur Max (production designer), Letizia Santucci (set decorator)
The Last Duel (20th Century Studios)
Arthur Max (production designer), Judy Farr (set decorator)
Last Night in Soho (Focus Features)
Marcus Rowland (production designer), Judy Farr (set decorator)
The Power of the Dog (Netflix)
Grant Major (production designer), Amber Richards (set decorator)
Spencer (Neon)
Guy Hendrix Dyas (production designer), Yesim Zolan (set decorator)
The Tragedy of Macbeth (A24/Apple TV+)
Stefan Dechant (production designer), Nancy Haigh (set decorator)
