In the ever-shifting Oscar landscape, HAMNET has pulled off the biggest move in a month: overtaking what had seemed to be the prohibitive favorite, Paul Thomas Anderson’s ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, in the Gold Derby odds for predicted Best Picture nominees.
The Shakespeare-inspired drama now leads the pack by a narrow margin, with a 96.8 percent chance to be nominated, compared to 95.8 percent for ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. Directed by Oscar winner Chloé Zhao, HAMNET is a deeply emotional dramatization of the real-world circumstances that may have inspired William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and the Focus Features film, starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley, has been on a remarkable trajectory since its festival debut.
The film occupied the top slot in September after its warm reception at the Telluride Film Festival, followed by winning the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, but in early October, Anderson’s film surged to number one following a strong opening weekend and had held the spot until this past weekend. The two films are both considered locks for nominations and expected to be competing for top prizes throughout awards season, though the race is playing out differently across various categories.
For the predicted Best Director field, Anderson still has the lead over Zhao, while in the acting categories, Buckley leads the predicted Best Actress nominees and Leonardo DiCaprio continues to dominate Best Actor predictions for ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. Despite HAMNET’s strong showing in Best Picture predictions, both Zhao and Mescal were overlooked in recent predictions for director and supporting acting categories, suggesting the film’s path to Oscar glory may be more complicated than its current frontrunner status suggests. HAMNET could see another boost when it opens nationwide on November 27, potentially widening its lead in what is shaping up to be a very close race just two months before the January 22 Oscar nominations, when voters will finally reveal whether this Shakespeare-inspired drama can maintain its momentum or if Anderson’s latest work will reclaim its crown.
Caitríona Balfe is heading back to television 👁️
The OUTLANDER star teams with Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón for ASCENSION, a psychological horror thriller for Apple TV, playing Rose, a documentary filmmaker probing a mysterious 20th-century cult... only to find something far more sinister waiting beneath its teachings.
Full details via 🔗︎ in bio!
Phoenix rising 🔥🎬
CILLIAN MURPHY and wife Yvonne McGuinness have got the green light to bring Dingle`s beloved Phoenix Cinema back to life — not just as a cinema, but as a full-blown creative hub for west Kerry.
Full details via 🔗︎ in bio!
Aisling Bea is going to Mars 🚀
The Irish actress and BAFTA TV winner has joined the cast of STARMAN, starring alongside Brendan Fraser and Jeff Daniels, playing defiant Irish photographer Julia Hanley opposite Fraser`s stranded astronaut.
Full details via 🔗︎ in bio!
Irish director Lenny Abrahamson (NORMAL PEOPLE, ROOM) is set to direct YOU ARE HERE.
The eight-part screen adaptation of David Nicholls` best-selling novel will star Claire Foy (THE CROWN) and Matthew MacFayden (SUCCESSION)
Full details via link in bio 🔗︎
Barry Keoghan heads back into Irish indie territory with LEMONADE 🍋
First-look images and details have landed for Kim Bartley`s narrative feature debut, a story about first loves, second chances, and the ties that make a family.
Full preview via link in bio 🔗︎
We`ve lost a national treasure 💔
Oscar-winning singer-songwriter, Glen Hansard, has died as a result of a motorcycle accident in Dublin this morning.
THE COMMITMENTS and ONCE star leaves behind a monumental cultural legacy on screen and stage.
Full tribute via link in bio 🔗︎
Brothers. Betrayal. Drag queens.
STARLINGS, the debut novel from RUSSELL TOVEY (THE NIGHT MANAGER, ANGELS IN AMERICA), has landed as an Audible original — and Andrew Scott has lent his voice to this amazing, brave work.
Listen now via link in bio 🔗︎
Domhnall Gleeson`s acting range is simply unreal.
The STAR WARS and HARRY POTTER star talks his new Peacock mockumentary hit THE PAPER, upcoming work in Werner Herzog`s BUCKING FASTARDS and the current Sundance breakout THE INCOMER.
Watch now via link in bio 🔗︎
Andrew Scott is heading to @tiff_net!
ELSINORE, Scott`s biographical drama about legendary actor Ian Charleson, has landed a Special Presentations slot at TIFF 2026, starring alongside Olivia Coleman.
Full details via link in bio 🔗︎
