Oscar 2026 Shockers: Wicked Sequel Shut Out as Delroy Lindo Surprises and Paul Mescal Misses Out
Years after feeling overlooked by the Academy, Delroy Lindo has finally received recognition. Following Da 5 Bloods earning only one nomination in 2021, the actor had openly shared how disappointed he was by the lack of acknowledgment for the film and his performance.
Chase Infiniti in 'One Battle After Another,' Paul Mescal in 'Hamnet,' Delroy Lindo in 'Sinners' and Kate Hudson in 'Song Sung Blue.'
Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection; Agata Grzybowska/Focus Features/Courtesy Everett Collection; Warner Bros.; Focus Features/Courtesy Everett Collection
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lindo described that moment as deeply disheartening, though he acknowledged that awards are never guaranteed and emphasized that no artist is owed nominations.
Now, the narrative has changed. Lindo picked up a best supporting actor nomination for Sinners, one of a record 16 nominations for the film. His selection surprised many, as critics had predicted Miles Caton would emerge as the breakout nominee instead.
The acting categories featured several unexpected turns. Chase Infiniti, considered a strong contender for best actress for her first leading role in One Battle After Another, was not nominated even though the film secured 13 nods. Kate Hudson filled that space with a surprise nomination for Song Sung Blue after a late but determined campaign.
Paul Mescal also failed to make the cut for best supporting actor for Hamnet, despite the film earning eight nominations. His co-star Jessie Buckley later told THR that their creative work was inseparable, saying the recognition belonged to him just as much as to her.
Additional notable omissions included Jesse Plemons for Bugonia, Jennifer Lawrence for Die My Love, Jennifer Lopez and Tonatiuh for Kiss of the Spider-Woman, and several actors from Train Dreams, including Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, William H. Macy, and Kerry Condon.
Meanwhile, Ethan Hawke emerged as an unexpected nominee in the best actor category for Blue Moon, a performance many analysts had placed on the fringe.
Several once-prominent awards hopefuls were completely shut out. Most striking was Wicked: For Good, which failed to secure any nominations just a year after the original Wicked earned ten nods and showcased Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande at the Oscars.
Other films missing entirely included Jay Kelly, despite support from George Clooney, Laura Dern, and Noah Baumbach; Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere; The Testament of Ann Lee; and Is This Thing On?, directed by Bradley Cooper and starring Dern.
No Other Choice was another surprise omission, while F1 exceeded expectations with a best picture nomination.
Sequels struggled across categories. Avatar: Fire and Ash managed only two technical nominations after its predecessors dominated in previous years. Miley Cyrus’s “Dream as One” from the film and Ed Sheeran’s “Drive” from F1 were both left out of the best song category.
More surprises followed elsewhere. Guillermo del Toro missed out on best director for Frankenstein, and Hildur Gudnadóttir failed to receive a best score nomination for Hedda. In documentary feature, high-profile omissions included Cover-Up, Apocalypse in the Tropics, My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 – Last Air in Moscow, and 2000 Meters to Andriivka.
