The Business Steamrollers, record breakers, and late surges: Inside the 2026 Oscar nominees
Feb 6, 2026
Scott Feinberg, Executive Editor of Awards at The Hollywood Reporter, brings his Oscar-season expertise. He breaks down Warner Bros.' two-front Best Picture strategy. He explains the new Best Casting category and why Sinners could benefit. He highlights surprise nominees like F1 and Hamnet, and reviews acting, music, and documentary frontrunners.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Disney Picks Parks Chief And Keeps Creative Lead
- Disney named Josh DeMauro CEO and elevated Dana Walden to president and chief creative officer to balance operations and creativity.
- The board framed them together publicly to reassure creatives about the partnership.
Studios Must Balance AI And Creativity
- Disney publicly embraces AI as a creative tool while trying not to alienate creators worried about jobs.
- Studios must balance AI cost-savings with preserving trust of creative communities.
Netflix Hearing Was More Political Than Legal
- Ted Sarandos faced politically charged Senate questioning about Netflix's influence, with many senators grandstanding.
- The hearing focused more on politics and optics than detailed antitrust analysis.