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.

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)