The Oscars 2025 journey begins now on Cine Set!
Yes, there’s still plenty of time, and I won’t make predictions about who the nominees will be. However, it’s already possible to pinpoint films with potential to be contenders for the award.
In this first part, I introduce the first major contender set to premiere in theaters worldwide, two highly anticipated sequels, an action film featuring a Brazilian in the cast, and much more.
FURIOSA
The Cannes Film Festival 2024 will be the stage for the debut of a contender attempting to replicate an achievement seen at the 2016 Oscars.
“Mad Max: Fury Road” emerged from the French event with flying colors and went on to the Academy Awards, propelling “Mad Max” to an unprecedented status for the series: 10 nominations and six statuettes.
“Furiosa” seeks a repeat by showcasing the origin story of the heroine, now portrayed by Anya Taylor-Joy.
The trailer already makes it clear how the visual strength remains, which should lead it to compete in many technical categories.
The question will be whether the Oscars will embrace the franchise as they did eight years ago. If so, it will at least have chances for nominations in Best Picture, Direction with George Miller, and Lead Actress.
NOSFERATU AND JORDAN PEELE’S NEW FILM
Two recent names in horror cinema are releasing new films in 2024.
Known for “The Witch” and “The Lighthouse,” Robert Eggers will arrive with the new version of “Nosferatu.”
Bill Skarsgård, Willem Dafoe, Emma Corrin are part of the cast, and the scheduled Christmas release should ensure the film is showcased at a major festival in the second half of the year.
Distribution will be handled by Universal Pictures, acclaimed this year with “Oppenheimer.”
As for Jordan Peele’s new project, it’s shrouded in mystery: the film was initially slated for release this Christmas by the same Universal Pictures.
Unfortunately, by the end of 2023, the studio removed the production from its schedule. Whether it will be pushed to 2024, even if it means a limited release initially followed by wider distribution, remains uncertain.
The Oscar-winning director for Original Screenplay for “Get Out” saw his last two major releases, “Us” and “Nope,” completely overlooked. Let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself.
“PLANET OF THE APES,” “EDEN,” “WOLFS”
Speaking of underrated works, the “Planet of the Apes” series is a prime example.
Despite receiving critical acclaim and achieving success with audiences, the last three films directed by had only been recognized in Visual Effects.
“Kingdom of Planet of the Apes” now under the direction of Wes Ball, will at least attempt to replicate that feat, perhaps aiming to reclaim Hollywood’s dominance in the category after the surprising victory of “Godzilla Minus One” in 2024.
“Eden” is Ron Howard’s latest effort to reconcile with the Oscars, having been awarded for “A Beautiful Mind.”
His recent attempts to capture the prize with “In the Heart of the Sea,” “Hillbilly Elegy,” and “Thirteen Lives: The Thai Cave Rescue” were disappointing failures.
The new film brings together a trio of goddesses: Sydney Sweeney, Vanessa Kirby, and Ana de Armas.
The work is a survival thriller set on the Galapagos Islands, internationally renowned thanks to Charles Darwin’s book “On the Origin of Species.”
Meanwhile, “Wolfs” marks the reunion of Brad Pitt and George Clooney, their last collaboration being “Burn After Reading.”
Distributed by Apple, the film features the stars as individuals brought together for a common task.
Jon Watts, known for “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” directs the film.
HIT MAN AND CIVIL WAR
Even though it left Venice with much praise, “Hit Man” was held back by Netflix for release only in June this year.
The decision could weaken the suspense of Richard Linklater’s film, arriving without as much hype for the season.
On the other hand, if it is well-received again by critics and gains prestige with the audience, there are possibilities to overcome a potential poor strategy from the streaming platform. We’ll have to wait and see.
And why not believe that Wagner Moura could be at the Oscars in 2025?
The initial opinions about “Civil War,” Alex Garland’s new film, are overwhelmingly positive.
Although it’s always necessary to be cautious with this type of initial assessment, the plot about a USA on the brink of social collapse resonates with the tension of what this year may bring due to the presidential elections in the country.
The strength of the great cast and the story, combined with A24’s know-how, could propel the film far, which could be reinforced depending on its box office performance.
F1 AND “DUNE: PART 2”
Joseph Kosinski had a bitter taste at last year’s Oscars: “Top Gun: Maverick” was heavily nominated, but he was left out of the Best Director category.
Now, he’s speeding ahead with a production about Formula 1.
Little is known about the plot, but the cast is star-studded with Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, and Kerry Condon.
Finally, the first major contender for the 2025 Oscars is already among us.
“Dune: Part 2” was delayed from last year to 2024 due to the actors’ and writers’ strike, which turned out to be a good move to avoid a season dominated by “Oppenheimer.” Now, the chances of it reigning supreme in the technical categories are similar to what happened in 2022.
In the major categories, the main challenge will be to get Denis Villeneuve recognized for Best Director after the snub of the first film. It will depend heavily on the strength of the other contenders. As for Best Picture, it’s likely to appear, with Austin Butler being the most probable for acting nominations.
It might turn out that “Dune: Part 2” becomes a middle-ground production, much like “The Two Towers” for “The Lord of the Rings” and the latest “Spider-Verse.” Since Warner Bros. is likely to make the third film after its box office success, perhaps the Academy will decide to honor the series definitively when it reaches its conclusion. In any case, I predict many nominations once again.
