Who’s Already in the Running for 2025 Oscars? Angelina Jolie and Demi Moore Heat Up the Race

Mar. 15, 2025

(Left-right:) Angelina Jolie in ‘Maria,’ Sebastian Stan in ‘The Apprentice,’ Demi Moore in ‘The Substance’.Photo:Pablo Larra; APPRENTICE PRODUCTIONS ONTARIO INC; MUBI

Pablo Larra; APPRENTICE PRODUCTIONS ONTARIO INC; MUBI

Some might say it’s too early to think about the 2025Academy Awards, which officially air on March 2 of next year. But the conclusion of film festivals atCannes,Venice, Telluride andToronto— and anotherEmmy Awards— can only mean one thing: the race for Oscar gold is officially on.The coming awards season will be an especially starry one, considering the highly anticipated return of previous Oscar winnersAngelina Jolie,Nicole KidmanandAdrien Brody, as well as A-listers overdue for a nomination, likeDemi Moore,Daniel CraigandZoe Saldaña. But watch out for the up-and-comers, including festival breakouts like Mikey Madison and Danielle Deadwyler, whose inspiring screen performances could make them awards season standouts.Read on for our early predictions of which actors could — and should — be in the running for that coveted little gold man.

Some might say it’s too early to think about the 2025Academy Awards, which officially air on March 2 of next year. But the conclusion of film festivals atCannes,Venice, Telluride andToronto— and anotherEmmy Awards— can only mean one thing: the race for Oscar gold is officially on.

The coming awards season will be an especially starry one, considering the highly anticipated return of previous Oscar winnersAngelina Jolie,Nicole KidmanandAdrien Brody, as well as A-listers overdue for a nomination, likeDemi Moore,Daniel CraigandZoe Saldaña. But watch out for the up-and-comers, including festival breakouts like Mikey Madison and Danielle Deadwyler, whose inspiring screen performances could make them awards season standouts.

Read on for our early predictions of which actors could — and should — be in the running for that coveted little gold man.

01of 16The Women of ‘Emilia Perez’(Left-right:) Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Karla Sofía Gascón in ‘Emilia Perez’.Shanna Besson/PAGE 114 - WHY NOT PRODUCTIONS/NetflixZoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón,Selena Gomezand Adriana Pazkicked offearly Oscar buzz with a historic win at May’s Cannes Film Festival. The fourEmilia Perezstars collectively received the Jury Prize for best actress, making the Spanish-born Gascón the first transgender performer to win a major award at the French fest.The bold, Mexico-set musical from French writer-director Jacques Audiard then titillated Toronto festival audiences, who voted the film the runner-up for theirPeople’s Choice Award. Academy prognosticators often look to that prize for clues of the race to come: previous winners, from last year’sAmerican FictiontoNomadlandandLa La Land, have gone on to earn nominations in top Oscar categories, including best picture.Emilia Perez, which costars Édgar Ramírez and Mark Ivanir, will screen in U.S. theaters on Nov. 1 before its streaming debut on Netflix Nov. 13, putting it in prime position for awards attention.

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The Women of ‘Emilia Perez’

(Left-right:) Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Karla Sofía Gascón in ‘Emilia Perez’.Shanna Besson/PAGE 114 - WHY NOT PRODUCTIONS/Netflix

Shanna Besson/PAGE 114 - WHY NOT PRODUCTIONS/Netflix

Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón,Selena Gomezand Adriana Pazkicked offearly Oscar buzz with a historic win at May’s Cannes Film Festival. The fourEmilia Perezstars collectively received the Jury Prize for best actress, making the Spanish-born Gascón the first transgender performer to win a major award at the French fest.

The bold, Mexico-set musical from French writer-director Jacques Audiard then titillated Toronto festival audiences, who voted the film the runner-up for theirPeople’s Choice Award. Academy prognosticators often look to that prize for clues of the race to come: previous winners, from last year’sAmerican FictiontoNomadlandandLa La Land, have gone on to earn nominations in top Oscar categories, including best picture.

Emilia Perez, which costars Édgar Ramírez and Mark Ivanir, will screen in U.S. theaters on Nov. 1 before its streaming debut on Netflix Nov. 13, putting it in prime position for awards attention.

02of 16Adrien Brody(Left-right:) Alessandro Nivola and Adrien Brody in ‘The Brutalist’.A24/Lol CrawleyBrody, 51, could make a triumphant return to the Oscars stage over 20 years after his win for 2002’sThe Pianist. His role in Brady Corbet’sThe Brutalisthad Venice Film Festival audiences and critics raving despite the movie’s whopping runtime of three hours and 35 minutes.A24’s historical drama film follows Brody’s László Tóth, a Hungarian-born Jewish architect emigrating to the U.S. after the devastation of WWII. Still awaiting a release date, it costarsGuy Pearce,Felicity Jones, Alessandro Nivola andJoe Alwyn.

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Adrien Brody

(Left-right:) Alessandro Nivola and Adrien Brody in ‘The Brutalist’.A24/Lol Crawley

A24/Lol Crawley

Brody, 51, could make a triumphant return to the Oscars stage over 20 years after his win for 2002’sThe Pianist. His role in Brady Corbet’sThe Brutalisthad Venice Film Festival audiences and critics raving despite the movie’s whopping runtime of three hours and 35 minutes.

A24’s historical drama film follows Brody’s László Tóth, a Hungarian-born Jewish architect emigrating to the U.S. after the devastation of WWII. Still awaiting a release date, it costarsGuy Pearce,Felicity Jones, Alessandro Nivola andJoe Alwyn.

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Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig in ‘Queer’.A24

A24

Fans of Craig, 56, may be surprised to learn he has never made the Academy’s shortlist. Could that change thanks to his heralded work inLuca Guadagnino’s Venice competitorQueer?

04of 16Danielle DeadwylerDanielle Deadwyler in ‘The Piano Lesson’.Courtesy of NetflixThe controversy surrounding the Oscars’lack of recognitionforDeadwyler, 42, for her work asMamie Till-Mobleyin 2022’sTillcould propel voters to jump at the chance to honor her undeniable talent in her latest film. She’s sensational once again, this time as Berniece Charles, a matriarch and pianist contending with a haunted family heirloom inMalcolm Washington’s adaptationofAugust Wilson’sThe Piano Lesson, in theaters Nov. 8 and streaming on Netflix Nov. 22. The film drew acclaim following its premieres at Telluride and Toronto.

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Danielle Deadwyler

Danielle Deadwyler in ‘The Piano Lesson’.Courtesy of Netflix

Courtesy of Netflix

The controversy surrounding the Oscars’lack of recognitionforDeadwyler, 42, for her work asMamie Till-Mobleyin 2022’sTillcould propel voters to jump at the chance to honor her undeniable talent in her latest film. She’s sensational once again, this time as Berniece Charles, a matriarch and pianist contending with a haunted family heirloom inMalcolm Washington’s adaptationofAugust Wilson’sThe Piano Lesson, in theaters Nov. 8 and streaming on Netflix Nov. 22. The film drew acclaim following its premieres at Telluride and Toronto.

05of 16Colman DomingoColman Domingo in ‘Sing Sing’.A24A24’s prison dramaSing Singhas technically been a 2025 awards contender since it premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival — but a rapturous reception following its July 12 theatrical release guarantees it’s in the running.The meteoric career rise of Domingo, 54, means Oscar voters are surely ready to honor him for the second year in a row after his work in 2023’s biopicRustin.

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Colman Domingo

Colman Domingo in ‘Sing Sing’.A24

A24’s prison dramaSing Singhas technically been a 2025 awards contender since it premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival — but a rapturous reception following its July 12 theatrical release guarantees it’s in the running.

The meteoric career rise of Domingo, 54, means Oscar voters are surely ready to honor him for the second year in a row after his work in 2023’s biopicRustin.

06of 16Ralph FiennesRalph Fiennes in ‘Conclave’.Courtesy of Focus FeaturesAfter decades of memorable performances, Fiennes, 61, remains Oscar-less, a fact that may shock voters enough to put him atop their shortlists. They’ll have two chances: Edward Berger’sConclave(in theaters Oct. 25), in which Fiennes plays a cardinal choosing a successor to the Pope; and the British star’s reunion withThe English PatientcostarJuliette Binochein Uberto Pasolini’sOdysseyadaptationThe Return(in theaters Dec. 6). For the latter,The Daily Beastcritic Nick Schager called Fiennes “one of cinema’s most versatile and adventurous actors.”

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Ralph Fiennes

Ralph Fiennes in ‘Conclave’.Courtesy of Focus Features

Courtesy of Focus Features

After decades of memorable performances, Fiennes, 61, remains Oscar-less, a fact that may shock voters enough to put him atop their shortlists. They’ll have two chances: Edward Berger’sConclave(in theaters Oct. 25), in which Fiennes plays a cardinal choosing a successor to the Pope; and the British star’s reunion withThe English PatientcostarJuliette Binochein Uberto Pasolini’sOdysseyadaptationThe Return(in theaters Dec. 6). For the latter,The Daily Beastcritic Nick Schager called Fiennes “one of cinema’s most versatile and adventurous actors.”

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Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’.Niko Tavernise

Niko Tavernise

Todd Phillips’sequeltoJoaquin Phoenix’s Oscar-winningJoker(in theaters Oct. 4) has been destined for awards conversation since its announcement - even more so onceGaga, 38, was announced toplaypopular D.C. comics character Harley Quinn.

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Brian Tyree Henry

Ryan Destiny and Brian Tyree Henry in ‘The Fire Inside’.Amazon MGM Studios

Amazon MGM Studios

It wouldn’t be awards season without a sports drama based on real-life athletes, and this year there are two: Jharrel Jerome andJennifer Lopez’sUnstoppable(in theaters Dec. 6) andRyan DestinyandBrian Tyree Henry’sThe Fire Inside(in theaters Dec. 25).

09of 16Tom HiddlestonTom Hiddleston in ‘The Life Of Chuck’.TIFFLife of Chuckhas fresh swagger after taking the top prize at the Toronto International Film Festival. Does the surprise win mean the widely respectedHiddleston, 43, will get his first shot at Oscar gold? He stars — and pulls offa seven-minute dance sequence— in the titular role of Mike Flanagan’s TorontowinnerThe Life of Chuck, adapted from aStephen Kingnovella. The movie (which does not yet have a distributor or release date) costars the British star’s Marvel castmatesChiwetel EjioforandKaren Gillan, as well as Annalise Basso andMark Hamill.

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Tom Hiddleston

Tom Hiddleston in ‘The Life Of Chuck’.TIFF

TIFF

Life of Chuckhas fresh swagger after taking the top prize at the Toronto International Film Festival. Does the surprise win mean the widely respectedHiddleston, 43, will get his first shot at Oscar gold? He stars — and pulls offa seven-minute dance sequence— in the titular role of Mike Flanagan’s TorontowinnerThe Life of Chuck, adapted from aStephen Kingnovella. The movie (which does not yet have a distributor or release date) costars the British star’s Marvel castmatesChiwetel EjioforandKaren Gillan, as well as Annalise Basso andMark Hamill.

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Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie in ‘Maria’.Pablo Larraín

Pablo Larraín

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Nicole Kidman

Kidman, 57, has become one of Hollywood’s most prolific and hardworking actress-producers; few others haveearned an acting prizeat the Venice Film Festival in the same week as the debut of a hot new streaming miniseries (The Perfect Couple, now on Netflix).

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Mikey Madison

Mark Eydelshteyn and Mikey Madison in ‘Anora’.NEON

NEON

13of 16Demi MooreDemi Moore in ‘The Substance’.Courtesy of MUBIComing off her turn inFeud: Capote vs. the Swans,Moore, 61, is earning some of her best reviews ever forThe Substance(in theaters Sept. 20), whichpremieredat Cannes and won writer-director Coralie Fargeat a best screenplay honor. The story of a celebrity using a black-market drug to create a younger version of herself certainly isn’t your typical Academy fare, but that’s exactly how the Oscar-less Moore could shake up the awards race this fall.

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Demi Moore

Demi Moore in ‘The Substance’.Courtesy of MUBI

Courtesy of MUBI

Coming off her turn inFeud: Capote vs. the Swans,Moore, 61, is earning some of her best reviews ever forThe Substance(in theaters Sept. 20), whichpremieredat Cannes and won writer-director Coralie Fargeat a best screenplay honor. The story of a celebrity using a black-market drug to create a younger version of herself certainly isn’t your typical Academy fare, but that’s exactly how the Oscar-less Moore could shake up the awards race this fall.

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Saoirse Ronan

Saoirse Ronan in ‘The Outrun’.Sony Pictures Classics

Sony Pictures Classics

Ronan, 30, has been an Oscar darling since becoming one of the youngest people to earn four nods in the awards’ history. Because the Irish-American actress has — inconceivably! — never won, voters are likely to welcome a chance to honor her impressive body of work.

15of 16Sebastian Stan(Left-right:) Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve and Adam Pearson in ‘A Different Man’.Courtesy of A24Stan, 42, is a tour de force in two separate films this fall.The Apprentice(in theaters Oct. 11) is an alreadycontroversialDonald Trump biopic, depicting the former president (Stan) during rise in the 1970s and ’80s. Aaron Schimberg’sA Different Man(in theaters Sept. 20) tells a far different tale, focusing on a man (Stan) with neurofibromatosis whose life becomes enmeshed with another man (Adam Pearson) with the same condition. Both challenging indie roles could potentially launch the Marvel Cinematic Universe favorite into the Oscar race.

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Sebastian Stan

(Left-right:) Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve and Adam Pearson in ‘A Different Man’.Courtesy of A24

Courtesy of A24

Stan, 42, is a tour de force in two separate films this fall.The Apprentice(in theaters Oct. 11) is an alreadycontroversialDonald Trump biopic, depicting the former president (Stan) during rise in the 1970s and ’80s. Aaron Schimberg’sA Different Man(in theaters Sept. 20) tells a far different tale, focusing on a man (Stan) with neurofibromatosis whose life becomes enmeshed with another man (Adam Pearson) with the same condition. Both challenging indie roles could potentially launch the Marvel Cinematic Universe favorite into the Oscar race.

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Jeremy Strong

(Left-right:) Jeremy Strong and Sebastian Stan in ‘The Apprentice’.APPRENTICE PRODUCTIONS ONTARIO INC. / PROFILE PRODUCTIONS 2 APS / TAILORED FILMS LTD. 2023

APPRENTICE PRODUCTIONS ONTARIO INC. / PROFILE PRODUCTIONS 2 APS / TAILORED FILMS LTD. 2023

source: people.com