Oscars 2016 Predictions: Focus Features Could Have a Best Picture Contender in "Suffragette"
Focus Features has added yet another Oscar contender to its 2015 fall slate.
The U.S. company acquired the long awaited British Indie "Suffragette."
The film stars Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter and Meryl Streep and was directed by Sarah Gavron. Abi Morgan wrote the script, which is inspired by the early 20th century campaign by the suffragettes for the right of women to vote. The film will center on Mulligan's character as a working wife and mother who comes to realize that she must fight for her dignity both at home and in her workplace.
The film also stars Ben Whishaw, Anne-Marie Duff and Brendan Gleeson and was produced by Ruby Films' Alison Owen and Faye Ward.
"Suffragette" has been on many pundits' lists for the past year and a half and many expected it to be released last year. However, the film was not finished on time. The company is planning to release it in the fall, which means Focus is planning an Oscar campaign. From the looks of the great cast, expect Carey Mulligan to be in the race for Best Actress, Meryl Streep to be in the Best Supporting Actress category and composer Alexandre Desplat to get his ninth Original Score nomination. Writer Morgan could potentially get her first nomination, and the film could also get Gavron a directing nomination.
With a fall release, the movie should also be expected at the Toronto and Telluride film festivals. Focus Features has always made sure to premiere big Oscar contenders in the fall festival circuit and this one will not be the exception.
It is the third film this year that Focus picks up and is slated for the fall. Late last year, the company acquired "A Little Chaos" starring Kate Winslet after its Toronto International Film Festival premiere. The film did not obtain great reviews and while most speculate it will be released in the fall, the release date is still TBD.
The company's other major awards player this year is Tom Hooper's "The Danish Girl." The film stars Eddie Redmayne and based on the past results of both the director and actor, expect the film to walk away with multiple Oscar nominations.
Focus is well known for its Oscar campaigns as it has garnered several Best Picture nominations. Among the Best Picture nominees the company has distributed include "The Pianist," "Brokeback Mountain," "Atonement," "Milk," "The Kids Are All Right," "Dallas Buyers Club" and "The Theory of Everything."
However, the company has yet to win a single Best Picture. Perhaps with "Suffragette" or "The Danish Girl," the company's tides will turn.
Besides its Best Picture track record, Focus Features has also been behind important Oscar wins such as Adrien Brody, Sean Penn and Eddie Redmayne's Best Actor wins. All three actors won for films that were nominated for Best Picture and, coincidentally, all three roles were based on real people. Focus' new lineup definitely has a strong chance at landing another Best Actor win for Redmayne or a Best Actress win for Mulligan.
"Suffragette" currently does not have a release date, but Focus is likely to announce the date in the next month.