NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton was a surprise inclusion at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, achieving a nomination for its cast in a field otherwise dominated by awards season favourites such as Spotlight, Room and Trumbo.
SEE ALSO: Spotlight championed as Best Picture by Boston and Los Angeles Film Critics
Netflix-distributed drama Beasts of No Nation also achieved success in the SAG nominations, with the film achieving recognition for its cast and Idris Elba netting a Best Supporting Actor nod for his role as the head of a militia of child soldiers.
The cast performance category, usually a strong indicator for Best Picture at the Oscars, was rounded out by financial dramedy The Big Short, true journalism story Spotlight and Trumbo, starring Bryan Cranston.
Cranston also took up a slot in the Best Actor category, joining Michael Fassbender for Steve Jobs, Johnny Depp for Black Mass, Leonardo DiCaprio for The Revenant and The Danish Girl‘s Eddie Redmayne, looking to once again win the gong he secured last year.
Best Actress frontrunner Brie Larson strengthened her Oscar case with a nod for her work in Room, joined in her category by fellow Oscar favourites Cate Blanchett (Carol) and Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn).
That category, however, did present two major surprises with Helen Mirren nominated for Weinstein-produced drama The Woman in Gold and Sarah Silverman entering the fray for Sundance darling I Smile Back.
Notable by their absence were Oscar hopefuls The Hateful Eight and Joy, with screeners perhaps sent out to late for SAG voters.
SEE ALSO: Straight Outta Compton goes straight to the top of the UK box office
The full nominations for the film portion of the 2016 SAG Awards can be found below.
BEST CAST
Beasts of No Nation
The Big Short
Spotlight
Straight Outta Compton
Trumbo
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Bryan Cranston for Trumbo
Johnny Depp for Black Mass
Leonardo DiCaprio for The Revenant
Michael Fassbender for Steve Jobs
Eddie Redmayne for The Danish Girl
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Cate Blanchett for Carol
Brie Larson for Room
Helen Mirren for The Woman in Gold
Saoirse Ronan for Brooklyn
Sarah Silverman for I Smile Back
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Christian Bale for The Big Short
Idris Elba for Beasts of No Nation
Mark Rylance for Bridge of Spies
Michael Shannon for 99 Homes
Jacob Tremblay for Room
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Rooney Mara for Carol
Rachel McAdams for Spotlight
Helen Mirren for Trumbo
Alicia Vikander for The Danish Girl
Kate Winslet for Steve Jobs
BEST STUNT ENSEMBLE
Everest
Fast & Fruious 7
Jurassic World
Mad Max: Fury Road
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
The SAG Awards will be held on January 30th, 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszFLSgML6ddazw180SXMvMz5&v=3AMx7tPsXgQ
Originally published December 9, 2015. Updated April 14, 2018.
