At this point in time, the biggest surprise about Deadpool isn't its record-breaking box office numbers, it's that the film has emerged as a true player on the awards circuit. Though Deadpool's chances of making serious noise at the Oscars are low, the comic book adaptation has picked up several key nominations from other organizations. Both the film itself and Ryan Reynolds were nominated at the Golden Globes, and the script by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick was recognized in the Best Adapted Screenplay category by the Writers Guild of America. After all the love Deadpool received last year, this was simply the icing on the cake.
As we make our way through awards season, there are still some voting bodies who have to weigh in. One of the most prominent is the Producers Guild of America, historically a strong prognosticator for the Oscar nominations. Those still hoping Deadpool can crash the Academy Awards will be quite pleased to learn that the movie has picked up a very prestigious honor from the PGA.
Per Variety, Deadpool is one of the 10 nominees for the PGA's Best Picture award. Joining it on the list are acclaimed dramas Arrival, Fences, Hacksaw Ridge, Hell or High Water, Hidden Figures, La La Land, Lion, Manchester by the Sea, and Moonlight. This marks the first time since 2008's The Dark Knight that a superhero movie has received this nomination, a turn of events few could have predicted even as Deadpool racked up several positive reviews. For many moviegoers, Reynolds' passion project was one of the best movies of 2016, and it's nice to see awards groups take notice.
Last year, seven of the 10 PGA Best Picture selections went on to score an Oscar nomination in the same category, so this is a massive boost for Deadpool as it continues its emergence as a dark horse. That said, over the years, the PGA has nominated some other populist hits - like Star Trek and Skyfall - that the Oscars ignored. This isn't a guarantee that we will see a Deadpool Best Picture montage on Oscar night, but it's very clear that the gleefully irreverent antihero tale has massive amounts of support within the industry. The most noteworthy title Deadpool beat out is Martin Scorsese's religious drama Silence, which struggled to find any real traction on the awards circuit this year.
This has been one incredible journey for Deadpool director Tim Miller, Reynolds, Reese, and Wernick. There was a point in time where Fox was unwilling to give the project the green light, and only after test footage leaked online did the studio move forward with it. All the accolades they've received will only increase hype and anticipation for the forthcoming Deadpool 2, and Reynolds is smarter than ever to take his time developing the sequel and make sure the followup can live up to Deadpool's undeniable legacy.
Source: Variety
