Disney Is Going to Push ‘Black Panther’ For Oscars, and Christopher Nolan Predicts Best Picture Nomination
“The Shape of Water” was just announced as your 2018 Oscar winner for Best Picture earlier this week, but Hollywood doesn’t sleep when it comes to Oscar season. Deadline’s awards columnist Pete Hammond hit the Oscars after-party circuit following the 90th Academy Awards and learned exclusively from a Disney executive that the studio is already preparing a massive awards push for its Marvel tentpole “Black Panther.”
Read More:Beyond ‘Black Panther’ Box Office: 5 Ways Its Success Changed the Movie Business
The decision is a no-brainer considering “Black Panther” has proven to be a critical darling and a box office phenomenon. In just under a month, the film has already broken onto the list of the top 10 highest-grossing films in the U.S. and is destined for a worldwide haul over the $1 billion mark. “Black Panther” is even challenging “The Avengers” to become the biggest comic book film in Hollywood history.
A Disney executive told Deadline that “Black Panther” will be one of two tentpoles the company puts its weight behind next awards season. The other title is “Mary Poppins Returns,” with the executive singling out Emily Blunt’s performance in the title role, which already won Julie Andrews an Oscar.
Fortunately, “Black Panther” has at least one confirmed Academy member supporting it, and he happens to be a directing powerhouse. Hammond ran into Christopher Nolan, who asked what films were on the radar for next year’s Best Picture race. Nolan told Hammond he predicts a Best Picture nomination for “Black Panther,” even though superhero films have long been avoided in the Oscars’ biggest category. Nolan’s own “The Dark Knight” missed the mark, as did “Wonder Woman.”
Head over to Deadline for Hammond’s complete Oscars after-party report.
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