Oscars 2020: The Irishman, Avengers: Endgame, Ad Astra, among contenders for visual effects award

Martin Scorsese's mob drama _The Irishman_ , Marvel films _Avengers: Endgame_ and _Captain Marvel_ are among the 20 films that will compete in the Visual Effects category for the 92nd Academy Awards. Scorsese had sparked a debate during the promotions of The Irishman by equating Marvel movies to a  theme park experience . Veteran filmmakers like Ken Loach and Francis Ford Coppola had spoken along similar lines. [caption id=“attachment_7447011” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Robert De Niro in a still from The Irishman. Twitter[/caption] His film, starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, has used the de-aging technology to reverse the years of its lead stars something that director Ang Lee also experimented with his _Gemini Man_ . The Will Smith-starrer is also in the list along with the Guy Ritchie-directed live-action remake of Disney fantasy drama, _Aladdin_ . Here is the Academy’s announcement

#Oscars news: 20 contenders advance in Visual Effects category https://t.co/HHhFFBeSi7

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) December 3, 2019

Brad Pitt-fronted space drama Ad Astra , Cats, Dumbo , Ford v Ferrari , The Aeronauts, Alita: Battle Angel , Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw , Jumanji: The Next Level, The Lion King , Men in Black: International , Midway, 1917, Spider-Man: Far from Home , Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Terminator: Dark Fate complete the list. The Academy’s Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee determined the preliminary list of films eligible for further awards consideration. The committee will select a shortlist of 10 films that will advance to nominations voting later this month. Nominations for the awards will be announced on 13 January, 2020. The Oscars will take place on 9 February, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Los Angeles. (With inputs from Press Trust of India)