The upcoming 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards, set to take place this Sunday evening, will likely shed light on the current Oscar race, which has been notably unpredictable this year.
Major awards ceremonies like the BAFTAs, the Producers Guild Awards, the Directors Guild Awards, and the Golden Globes have already contributed to the conversation, but the actors’ choices hold significant weight due to their large representation within the Academy. Their selections frequently parallel those honored by the Oscars.
Following noteworthy victories at the Producers Guild and Directors Guild Awards, as well as the recent Independent Spirit Awards, Sean Baker’s film “Anora” is emerging as a frontrunner for the best picture category at the upcoming Oscars. However, the tides shifted last weekend when Edward Berger’s “Conclave” achieved a win at the BAFTAs, adding an unexpected twist to an already eventful awards season—especially considering the rise and fall of “Emilia Pérez” as a top contender.
As the SAG Awards approach, several questions linger in the air. Hosted by Kristen Bell at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, there is curiosity surrounding whether “Wicked” can secure the best ensemble award at this late stage. There is also speculation about whether Adrien Brody can fend off competition from Timothée Chalamet for best actor, and whether Mikey Madison can maintain her momentum to win best actress against Demi Moore.
Viewers can catch the SAG Awards live on Netflix starting at 8 p.m. Eastern, with an official pre-show kicking off an hour earlier. Last year’s inaugural show on Netflix attracted an audience of approximately 1.8 million viewers, a number comparable to previous years’ broadcasts on TNT and TBS.
In terms of nominations, “Wicked” leads among films with five nominations, while “Sh?gun” tops the TV categories. Although Jon M. Chu’s musical has yet to secure a major award, the Screen Actors Guild has a history of favoring popular contenders. Other nominees for best ensemble include “Anora,” “The Brutalist,” “Conclave,” and “A Complete Unknown.”
The competition for best actor and best actress looks fierce. While Brody, for his role in “The Brutalist,” has garnered numerous accolades, Chalamet from “A Complete Unknown” and Ralph Fiennes from “Conclave” are strong contenders for an upset. The best actress category is equally competitive, featuring either Demi Moore in “The Substance” or Mikey Madison in “Anora” as potential winners.
In the supporting roles, Kieran Culkin from “A Real Pain” and Zoe Saldana in “Emilia Pérez” are anticipated to be favorites. Additionally, actor Jane Fonda is set to receive the SAG Life Achievement Award, recognizing her long-standing contributions to the industry.
In a notable note, the ceremony will acknowledge those impacted by the wildfires in Los Angeles, which led to the cancellation of the live nominations announcement back in January. The guild has established a disaster relief fund for SAG-AFTRA members who were affected, and producers have pledged to honor those individuals during the ceremony.
