US singer-songwriter Ariana Grande (L) and British actress Cynthia Erivo. (Photo by AFP)
Hollywood's awards season accelerates on Monday with the announcement of Golden Globe nominations, where two musicals — the blockbuster Wicked and the surreal Emilia Perez — are anticipated to dominate, alongside the papal drama Conclave. The Globes, scheduled for January 5, are often considered a precursor to the Academy Awards, and all three films are already prominent on many industry insiders' Oscar shortlists. Variety's senior awards editor, Clayton Davis, predicts significant nominations for the musicals.
"I anticipate they will lead the nominations," Davis said. Wicked, a film adaptation of the Broadway hit, features pop star Ariana Grande as the cheerful Glinda and Tony Award winner Cynthia Erivo as the green-skinned Elphaba. A sequel is slated for release next year. Emilia Perez, which received the Jury Prize at Cannes, narrates the transformation of a Mexican drug lord (Karla Sofia Gascon) into a woman. Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldana co-star in this French director Jacques Audiard's film, blending a narco-thriller with a Latin American telenovela, predominantly in Spanish.
Another film expected to excel in the comedy-musical categories is Anora, about a New York worker who strikes it rich with a wealthy client. "If the Globes are strategic, they should reserve the final three categories for comedy or musical, particularly the lead actress in a comedy or musical, which is likely to be highly competitive," Davis noted. Erivo, Gascon, and Anora's Mikey Madison could vie for the lead actress award, alongside perennial favorite Amy Adams (Nightbitch) and Demi Moore for her body horror film The Substance.
Davis also highlighted the potential for major pop diva nominations: besides Grande and Gomez, Jennifer Lopez might be recognized for her role in the true-story sports drama Unstoppable, and Lady Gaga is a contender for best song for Joker: Folie a Deux. The Golden Globes present separate awards for dramas and comedies/musicals, broadening the range of stars who could grace the red carpet. On the drama side, Conclave offers a fictionalized portrayal of the Holy See's internal conflicts following a pope's death. Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow headline this film, adapted from a novel by Robert Harris.
Other dramas in the running include Gladiator II, Ridley Scott's sequel to his 2000 epic, and Dune: Part Two, featuring Timothee Chalamet. "On the drama side, it has also become the year of the sequel in many respects," Davis observed. The Globes are in their second year of a revamp, following a 2021 Los Angeles Times exposé revealing the awards' voting body, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, had no Black members. Under new ownership and with the HFPA disbanded, organizers aim to build on a ratings boost from last January and enhance the gala's reputation as an Oscars predictor.
Davis believes the Globes "serve as a valuable indicator of what international voters are favoring" ahead of the Academy Award nominations, due on January 17, shortly after the Globes ceremony. International Academy members, whose numbers are increasing, have significantly influenced nominations and winners in recent years, Davis noted. The Globes also celebrate television excellence, with FX's historical epic Shogun — a major Emmy winner — expected to be a top contender, along with comedies The Bear and Only Murders in the Building. Actors Mindy Kaling and Morris Chestnut will reveal the main nominees for the 82nd Golden Globes on CBS from 1330 GMT Monday. Comedian Nikki Glaser will host the January 5 gala in Beverly Hills.
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