The 31st annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards are set to dazzle audiences on Sunday, February 23, as the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles prepares to host this much-anticipated event. After a year marked by escalating streaming wars, this ceremony, hosted by the talented Kristen Bell, will be uniquely broadcast live on Netflix. This will be the final significant Hollywood guild ceremony before the Oscars, which are scheduled for March 2, magnifying the significance of the evening.
As always, one of the key highlights of the SAG Awards is the Ensemble Cast category, which showcases some of the best cinematic talents. This year, five films vying for the coveted Best Picture Oscar also have nominations tucked under the SAG umbrella. The films include **A Complete Unknown**, **Anora**, **Conclave**, **Emilia Pérez**, and **Wicked**. The last Oscar race saw “Oppenheimer” clinch the SAG Ensemble prize, setting a precedent for potential Oscar success, an accomplishment many candidates will be eager to replicate.
In a significant move for the awards ceremony, Netflix has acquired exclusive streaming rights for the event, drawing attention to the evolving media landscape. The streaming giant isn’t only presenting the gala at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT; they are also hosting a red carpet event beforehand, commencing at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. This pre-show will be hosted by the charismatic Lilly Singh and Sasheer Zamata, providing a glamorous glimpse into the night’s festivities.
The excitement doesn’t stop with the films. On the television front, the Ensemble in a Drama Series category represents fierce competition among acclaimed shows such as **Bridgerton**, **The Day of the Jackal**, **The Diplomat**, **Shōgun**, and **Slow Horses**. Meanwhile, comedies face off with nominees including **Abbott Elementary**, **The Bear**, **Hacks**, **Only Murders in the Building**, and **Shrinking**.
The individual performances are equally impressive, with leading actors Adrien Brody for **The Brutalist**, Timothée Chalamet for **A Complete Unknown**, and Ralph Fiennes for **Conclave** among those in contention for Best Actor. The female nominees showcase an equally robust set of talents, highlighted by Pamela Anderson (**The Last Showgirl**) and Cynthia Erivo (**Wicked**).
In total, the evening will celebrate six films and nine television awards, all evaluated by a diverse membership of over 122,000 SAG-AFTRA members. Not to miss is Jane Fonda’s receipt of the SAG Life Achievement Award, presented by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, a moment sure to be a highlight of the evening.
With an impressive roster of presenters including Ariana Grande, Harrison Ford, and Michelle Yeoh, among others, the SAP Awards promise to be an evening filled with glamour and emotion, offering a fitting precursor to the pinnacle of awards season—the Academy Awards. As the date approaches, the industry buzz sóars, reminding us all of the incredible talent and creativity that define the world of entertainment.