'Wicked' tops SAG Awards nominations

LOS ANGELES

Hit musical "Wicked" topped the nominations on Jan. 8 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.

"The Brutalist," an epic immigrant drama about a Hungarian architect who survives the Holocaust and moves to the United States, was left out of that category, only earning one nomination for Globes winner Adrien Brody.

The SAG Awards are voted on by Hollywood actors, who represent the biggest branch of the membership of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which votes for the Oscars.

The prizes are therefore closely watched as indicators of who might be in the running for an Academy Award.

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).

Brody will compete for lead actor honors against Ralph Fiennes in "Conclave," Timothee Chalamet for his turn as Dylan in "A Complete Unknown," Daniel Craig in "Queer" and Colman Domingo for "Sing Sing."

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 take place on Febr. 23 in Los Angeles, and will stream live for the second year running on Netflix.

The live in-person announcement of the nominations on Wednesday was cancelled due to the devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

Later Wednesday, organizers of the Critics Choice Awards, scheduled for Jan. 12, told AFP the gala would be postponed due to the blazes.

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."

The DGA Awards take place on Feb. 10.