Disney is rightfully starting to pressure the Academy to put some respect onBlack Panther’s name. Now that the Ryan Coogler–directed instant classic is clear of winning the thankfully postponed Popular Film category, the studio is campaigning to earn the Marvel film the nominations it deserves: all of them.
As Entertainment Weekly points out, Disney shared its For Your Consideration, which details all of the categories Black Panther has submitted for the 2019 Academy Awards, as well as which actors. These include Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Chadwick Boseman. Also submitted are multiple considerations for Best Supporting Actor: Michael Bae Jordan, Daniel Kaluuya, Winston Duke, Sterling K. Brown, Forest Whitaker, Martin Freeman, and Andy Serkis. The Best Actress category was submitted with Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, and Angela Bassett. ("We have these actresses who could easily carry their own movie," Coogler said in May, sparking hopes and dreams everywhere.)
In addition to those major categories, Disney is asking the Academy to consider Black Panther for Best Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Film Editing, Costume Design (which it deserves hands down), Visual Effects, Original Score, and Original Song for Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “All the Stars."
This is its first time Marvel and Disney have seriously pressed for big recognition for a superhero flick at the Oscars. No film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has ever won an Oscar, and few other superhero movies outside the MCU have broken the stuffy and elite ranks of mainstream award ceremonies.
We'll find out what the Academy nominates on Jan. 22, 2019 and see who wins on Feb. 24.
