As the confetti settles from the recent Academy Awards, the awards circuit is already peering into the crystal ball, offering a first, speculative glimpse at the potential contenders for the 2027 Oscars. Variety’s chief awards editor, Clayton Davis, has unveiled his “blind predictions,” an early forecast that, while far from definitive, highlights a promising slate of films and talent poised to make waves.
The Auteurs Are Back in Force
This year’s early outlook suggests a strong return for acclaimed directors. Alejandro G. Iñárritu, reuniting with cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, is set to deliver “Digger,” a mystery project starring Tom Cruise. Following his honorary Oscar this year, Cruise might just be back for a competitive win. Meanwhile, Denis Villeneuve is expected to conclude his epic “Dune” saga with “Dune: Part Three.” With the first two installments garnering significant nominations and wins, the finale is a strong candidate for technical awards and potentially more.
Netflix and A24 Load Up for the Long Haul
Netflix appears to be assembling a formidable collection of potential nominees. David Fincher is reportedly directing Quentin Tarantino’s script for “The Adventures of Cliff Booth,” a spin-off featuring Brad Pitt reprising his Oscar-winning role. Elsewhere, Fernando Meirelles returns with “Here Comes the Flood,” starring Denzel Washington, and Greta Gerwig is set to adapt C.S. Lewis’ “The Magician’s Nephew.” A24 is also fielding a diverse slate, including Lance Oppenheim’s “Primetime” with Robert Pattinson, Matt Johnson’s Anthony Bourdain biopic “Tony,” and Jesse Eisenberg’s musical venture starring Julianne Moore and Halle Bailey. Neon is also making a play with films like Cristian Mungiu’s “Fjord” and Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s “All of a Sudden.”
Universal Pictures is banking on Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” a star-studded ensemble piece, and Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi project “Disclosure Day.” Even a sequel to “The Devil Wears Prada” featuring Meryl Streep is on the horizon. The early buzz also includes Martin McDonagh’s “Wild Horse Nine” and Marvel’s “Avengers: Doomsday,” alongside Sundance acquisition “Josephine.” Amazon MGM Studios is eyeing potential nominations with Ryan Gosling’s space adventure “Project Hail Mary.” With such a rich tapestry of cinematic possibilities, the race for the 2027 Oscars is already shaping up to be a fiercely competitive one.
📰 Source: Variety
