We just wrapped-up the ’15-’16 Awards Season, but it’s never too early to talk ’16-’17. And, believe it or not, we’ll be seeing a lot of familiar faces in those races:
Best Supporting Actress Academy Award winner Alicia Vikander (“The Danish Girl”) joins boyfriend (and “Steve Jobs” Best Actor nominee) Michael Fassbender in “The Light Between Oceans”, a Disney drama about a family living in Australia, opening September 2nd. Vikander’s “Danish” co-star, Eddie Redmayne, headlines the “Harry Potter” spinoff “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”, which is sure to be a prime contender in the technical categories. WB will open it wide on Nov. 18.
“Bridge of Spies” Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner Mark Rylance re-teams with Steven Spielberg on “The BFG”. Disney is giving the adventure a July 4th Weekend release, so it will be difficult for this one to have the legs to carry it into Awards Season. However, “Spies” star Tom Hanks looks to return to the Best Actor conversation with “Sully”, his collaboration with Clint Eastwood about heroic pilot Sully Sullenberger. WB has it scheduled for Sept. 9.
Following starring roles in back-to-back Best Picture Oscar winners “Birdman” and “Spotlight”, Michael Keaton plays “The Founder” of McDonald’s in “Saving Mr. Banks” director John Lee Hancock’s true-story biopic. The Weinstein Co. originally slated it for a November release, but it will now hit theaters nationwide on August 5. “Carol” Best Supporting Actress Oscar nominee Rooney Mara joins Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman for the Weinstein drama “Lion” (Limited Open Nov. 25). The film is about a young boy from India who is separated from his family members and, now grown, tries to find them.
“Collateral Beauty” features Golden Globe nominees Will Smith (“Concussion”) and Helen Mirren (“Trumbo”) in a drama from “The Devil Wears Prada” director David Frankel. WB has locked-it-in for Dec. 16. Director Morten Tyldum (“The Imitation Game”) brings together Chris Pratt and “Joy” Best Actress Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence for Sony’s sci-fi adventure “Passengers” (Dec. 21). And “Trumbo” Best Actor Oscar nominee Bryan Cranston stars in “Why Him?”, a
comedy about a father’s rivalry with his daughter’s new boyfriend, played by James Franco. 20th Century FOX currently has it set to open in Limited Release on Christmas Day.
Plus, a few of this year’s awards season nominees will be be starring in big action movies that likely won’t be part of any Best Picture races: Matt Damon returns as “Jason Bourne” (July 29) and Fassbender will be at the controls of the video game adaptation of “Assassin’s Creed” (Dec. 21). But, hey, “Mad Max: Fury Road” won six Oscars, so I guess we’ve reached the stage in Hollywood where nothing is impossible.