If you’re hoping for an Oscar nomination, perhaps you should consider adapting a novel or news story into a screenplay. Usually one of the more competitive categories, Adapted Screenplay is looking almost wide open at this stage of this particular awards season. That may partially be because four potential nominees have not screened publicly or for the press as of yet.
READ MORE: “Glass Onion” Review: Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out” sequel is another twisty delight [TIFF]
Granted, two of those films are big-budgeted sequels (“Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”), another is an English language remake (“A Man Called Otto”) and the fourth may end up as just a Netflix consumer play (“The Pale Blue Eye”). In theory, there are actually two locks already: Sarah Polley‘s script for “Women Talking” (adapted from Miriam Toews‘ 2018 novel) and “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” Rian Johnson‘s sequel to his 2020 nominated original screenplay, “Knives Out.” Additionally, we’re hedging our bets that Rebecca Lenkiewicz‘s screenplay for “She Said,” a narrative adaptation of Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey‘s non-fiction book, also makes the cut.
Other contenders might not even be in the conversation in previous years. Screenplays for “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Living,” “Bones and All,” “The Wonder” and “The Whale” all have a shot. In a perfect world, “Catherine Called Birdy” would be very much in the mix, but is likely a longshot. This one is a major curiosity. [Posted Oct. 12]
*Not screened at publication
Likely
“Women Talking”
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”
“She Said”*
Almost There
“Top Gun: Maverick”
“Living”
“Bones and All”
“The Wonder”
“The Whale”
Longshots
“Catherine Called Birdy”
“The Son”
“My Policeman”
“All Quiet on the Western Front”
“White Noise”
“Avatar: The Way of Water”*
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”*
“The Pale Blue Eye”*
“A Man Called Otto”*
Other categories
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actor