Despite the enormous popularity of the superhero movie, so far we’re yet to see one that has impressed the voters of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences enough to secure a Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards.
Well, according to The Dark Knight Trilogy director Christopher Nolan, that may change in 2019, with the filmmaker reportedly predicting to Deadline that Marvel’s box office juggernaut Black Panther could find itself contesting the prestigious award at next year’s Oscars (although Deadline stops short of providing any direct quotes from Nolan).
Nolan was widely expected to pick up a Best Picture nomination for 2008’s The Dark Knight, with the Academy opting to increase the nominees from 5 to 10 after criticism that the acclaimed Batman movie had been snubbed at 2009’s Academy Awards. It did pick up one Oscar however, with Heath Ledger posthumously honoured with Best Supporting Actor for his role as The Joker.
Typically, superhero movies are left to compete for the technical categories, with the occasional success such as Suicide Squad winning Best Makeup and Hairstyling last year. We did also get a rare non-technical nomination this year as Logan contested Best Adapted Screenplay, ultimately losing out to Call Me By Your Name.
Do you think Black Panther has a chance at a Best Picture nomination? Is it an Oscar-worthy film? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
After the events of Captain America: Civil War, King T’Challa returnsohome to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new leader. However, T’Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne from factions within his own country. When two foes conspire to destroy Wakanda, the hero known as Black Panther must team up with C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross and members of the Dora Milaje, Wakandan special forces, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.
Black Panther sees Ryan Coogler (Creed) directing Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa alongside Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Winston Duke as M’Baku, Forest Whitaker as Zuri, Daniel Kaluuya as W’Kabi, Angela Bassett as Ramonda, Florence Kasumba as Ayo, Martin Freeman as Everett Ross, Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue, Letitia Wright as Shuri, Sterling K. Brown as N’Jobu, John Kani as King T’Chaka and Nabiyah Be as Linda.
