Olivia Wilde could become the first woman to direct herself to an Oscar acting nomination for The Invite. As Variety reports, the A24 dramedy is quickly emerging as the studio's strongest awards bet of the season.
Wilde directs and stars as Angela, who is married to Joe, played by Seth Rogen. Rashida Jones and Will McCormack wrote the script for this highly anticipated project.
The film premiered at Sundance and was shot in chronological order over 23 days in San Francisco, on 35mm film that Wilde reportedly funded herself to maintain creative control. It ends with a touching dedication to Diane Keaton.
The history at stake in Hollywood is stark. Fifteen male actors have directed themselves to acting nominations over the decades, but no woman has ever achieved this milestone.
Only nine women have been nominated for best director in the Oscars' 98 years, and three have won, but none of them starred in the films they directed. If Wilde were nominated for both acting and directing, she would be the first woman to do so and would join just eight men who have managed it for the same film.
Gold Derby's recent predictions had Wilde as a likely best actress nominee, second only to Julianne Moore for The Debut, with The Invite tipped for five major nominations. Those categories would encompass best picture, director, actress, supporting actor for Norton, and adapted screenplay, showcasing widespread critical acclaim across multiple artistic domains.
TheWrap's Adam Chitwood called her turn the performance of her career, praising the depth and emotional resonance she brings to the complex character. The film marks Wilde's third feature as a director, following the massive success of Booksmart and the widely discussed Don't Worry Darling.
Industry experts believe that if the promotional campaign maintains its current momentum, the movie could become a defining cultural touchstone of the upcoming awards cycle.