Lionsgate has a smart awards strategy in hopes of becoming a dark horse contender for the Oscars.
The entire principal cast of Francis Lawrence’s The Long Walk, including Cooper Hoffman and David Johnson, will appear in the major award organization’s Best Supporting Actor category, Variety exclusively reports.
Lionsgate’s dystopian drama, adapted by J.T. Molnar from an early novel by Stephen King, hinges on the emotional dynamics between a group of teenage contestants who are forced to walk until only one remains. The filmmakers believe that the film’s power lies in the collective experience, rather than the traditional protagonist. We believe that choice is best reflected by submitting the ensemble together.
Although it may seem that Hoffman’s Raymond Galati (47th place) and Johnson’s Peter McFleece (23rd place) are the anchors of the story, all nine boys will be nominated for supporting roles at the Oscars, Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, BAFTAs, and Independent Spirit Awards. Judy Greer, who plays an important adult character in the story, is also expected to join the Supporting Actress race.
Submitting the entire cast together underscores the filmmakers’ confidence in the casting of director Rich D’Elia, whose work uniting a collection of up-and-coming talent is expected to be a focus of the campaign. The young actors have different reactions to the story’s brutal marathon.
With its ensemble-driven structure and bold category placement, “The Long Walk” joins a growing trend of awards nominees that challenge traditional definitions of leading and supporting roles.
In addition to the ensemble campaign, “The Long Walk” will compete in all major craft and top-of-the-line categories, including:
Best Picture: Roy Lee, Stephen Schneider, Francis Lawrence, Cameron McConomy
Best Director: Francis Lawrence
Screenplay: JT Molnar Screenplay
Best Supporting Actor: Cooper Hoffman, David Johnson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang
Best Supporting Actress: Judy Greer
Best Casting: Rich Delia
Cinematography: Joe Willems
Costume design: Heather Neal
Video editing: Mark Yoshikawa
Makeup and hairstyling: Doug Morrow, Zinka Tuminski
Production design: Nicolas Lepage. Set decoration by Scott Rossell
Sound: Supervising sound editors are Jeremy Perrison and Thomas Jones. production sound mixer Jeffrey Murias; Re-recording mixer Jeremy Perrison, Carlos Sanchez
Original score: Jeremiah Frates
