Can Hamilton Take Home An Oscar?
Honestly, it never occurred to me that Hamilton — the Tony Award-winning Broadway production — could win an Oscar. But there it is, a film streaming on Disney+.
Apparently a bunch of other people thought of the possibility, too – whether the monster theatrical hit might earn an Academy Award (thanks to its status as a huge streaming service anchor).
So, the venerable Hollywood Reporter took up the question:
Why ‘Hamilton’ Is Eligible for Globes and SAG Awards, But Not Oscars
And, it kinda makes sense. Maybe. IDK?
Have a read of Scott Feinberg’s piece:
Photo: Emily Hein/Business Insider
- Indeed, there is no rule on the Academy’s books that would technically preclude Hamilton from competing for Oscar noms. The closest thing is a rule that was implemented in 1997 for the documentary features and documentary shorts categories: “Works that are essentially promotional or instructional are not eligible, nor are works that are essentially unfiltered records of performances.”
- But nobody ever argued that Disney+’s Hamilton is a documentary. So, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed with the Academy, the Academy’s Awards Rules Committee, anticipating controversy if this project — comprised almost entirely of four-year-old content captured on a stage — was deemed Oscar-eligible, met to discuss the situation. And its members decided to disqualify Hamilton, citing Rule Two, Section G of the 93rd Academy Awards Rules, which states in part: “The Awards Rules Committee will evaluate all matters of rules and eligibility.”
Hamilton Can Win Golden Globes, SAG Awards
Bummer, but wait. Hamilton will not be left out of cinematic awards season.
THR.com also posted:
- The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that for the Golden Globe Awards, Hamilton is eligible for best picture (musical or comedy); Miranda and Leslie Odom, Jr. are eligible for best actor in a musical or comedy (Odom, Jr. is also eligible in the supporting actor and original song races for his work on One Night in Miami); and all other cast members with parts of any size are eligible in the supporting acting races.
- For the SAG Awards, meanwhile, Hamilton is not being treated as a film, but rather as a TV movie, meaning it could show up in two categories: best actor in a TV movie or miniseries and best actress in a TV movie or miniseries…
Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
So, grab your Playbills because Lin-Manuel Miranda and Co. will not be “throwing away [their] shot.”
