The wait is finally over, but for some of Hollywood’s biggest A-listers, the morning didn’t end with a celebration.
The Academy Award nominations were announced on April , and while the list features plenty of first-time honorees and critical darlings, the “snubs” list is arguably more star-studded than the ballot itself. Social media is currently in a tailspin over major misses for fan favorites like Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lawrence, and Paul Mescal.
Perhaps the biggest shock of the morning was the absence of Ariana Grande. Despite her previous success with the first Wicked installment and recent nods at the Golden Globes and Actor Awards, her return as Glinda the Good in Wicked: For Good didn’t land her a second Oscar nomination.
The sequel itself faced a tough morning, as Wicked: For Good was shut out of all major categories, including Best Picture—a sharp contrast to the massive awards haul of its predecessor.
Jennifer Lawrence also found herself on the outside looking in. After a season of intense buzz for her raw performance in Die, My Love, the Academy ultimately bypassed the Oscar winner, leaving “J-Law” fans venting their frustrations on X (formerly Twitter).
Joining the snub list is Paul Mescal, whose portrayal of William Shakespeare in Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet was widely expected to secure him a Best Supporting Actor slot. Despite recognition from his peers earlier this season, the Oscar nod remained elusive.
However, for some stars, the lack of a golden statue isn’t a dealbreaker. Amanda Seyfried, who was notably left off the Best Actress list for The Testament of Ann Lee, recently shared a refreshing perspective on the awards race.
“I’ve gotten this far without an Oscar. Why would I need one now?” the -year-old told The New Yorker in an interview published Jan. . “I feel I’m already proven.”
On the flip side, Timothée Chalamet is riding a wave of momentum. Earning his third career nomination for Marty Supreme, the -year-old actor is still glowing from his recent Golden Globe win.
“I would be lying if I didn’t say those moments make this moment that much sweeter,” Chalamet said during his Jan. Globe acceptance speech, reflecting on his “spirit of gratitude.”
While some titans fell, several newcomers and veterans pulled off major upsets. Jacob Elordi secured his first-ever nomination for Frankenstein, holding his own in a Supporting Actor category that was described as “stacked” by industry insiders.
In a true “Cinderella story” moment, Delroy Lindo also notched his first Oscar nomination for his role as Delta Slim, despite being overlooked by earlier ceremonies this year. Other surprises included a Best Picture nod for the high-octane thriller F and a Best Actress spot for Kate Hudson in Song Sung Blue.
The morning wasn’t without its heartbreak for the music world, either. Miley Cyrus missed out on a Best Original Song nomination for “Dream As One” from the Avatar franchise, a move that quickly began trending on TikTok as fans shared clips of her “robbed” campaign.
Other notable snubs included Regina Hall (One Battle After Another), Adam Sandler (Jay Kelly), Chase Infiniti, and Odessa A’Zion, proving once again that in the race for Oscar gold, nothing is ever a sure bet.
The th Academy Awards will air live on Sunday, May .
Jennifer Lawrence And Josh Hutcherson Are Returning To The Hunger Games Universe
The rumors are true, and months of denials have officially aged like milk. Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are reportedly returning to the world of Panem, reprising their iconic roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in Lionsgate’s highly anticipated prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.
At first, the idea seemed impossible. The new film takes place decades before Katniss ever volunteered for the Hunger Games, making the return of Lawrence and Hutcherson appear unlikely. However, the filmmakers have reportedly found a clever way to bring the beloved characters back without disrupting the timeline of the original trilogy.
The key is a framing device reportedly taken from Suzanne Collins’ latest novel. The story is expected to feature an older Katniss and Peeta spending time with Haymitch Abernathy as he tells them about the horrifying experience he endured during his own Hunger Games. This approach gives fans an opportunity to see the original characters again while allowing the prequel to remain focused on Haymitch’s story.
The revelation is especially amusing considering Josh Hutcherson’s recent comments about the project. For months, the actor insisted that he knew nothing about the upcoming film and emphasized how much he still loved the franchise. In Hollywood, however, such denials can often mean that a carefully worded confidentiality agreement is keeping the truth under wraps. Fans now have plenty of reason to laugh at those earlier statements.
Sunrise on the Reaping centers on the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell. This particular Games was designed to be especially brutal, with twice the usual number of tributes being sent into the arena. The story follows a young Haymitch as he struggles to survive one of the most devastating and psychologically intense Games in Panem’s history.
Bringing Katniss and Peeta into the story through a framing sequence could create an emotional connection between Haymitch’s past and the characters fans have followed since the beginning of the franchise. It also gives Lawrence and Hutcherson a chance to return without changing the events established in the original films.
Fans have already taken to social media to celebrate the reported reunion, with many joking about how successfully the actors managed to keep the secret. The combination of familiar stars, Suzanne Collins’ source material, and director Francis Lawrence returning has created enormous anticipation.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 20, 2026. Whether Katniss and Peeta appear only briefly or play a more meaningful role remains unclear, but their return could make this new chapter one of the franchise’s biggest cinematic events yet.
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