In a surprising turn of events, the nominations for the prestigious Directors Guild of America (DGA) feature-film award were unveiled on Wednesday, and they set the film community buzzing.

Despite "Wicked" leading the Screen Actors Guild nominations just hours earlier, its director, Jon M. Chu, was notably absent from the DGA lineup, sparking conversations about the industry's unpredictable dynamics.

The five directors recognized for the top DGA Award include: - Jacques Audiard for “Emilia Pérez” - Sean Baker for “Anora” - Edward Berger for “Conclave” - Brady Corbet for “The Brutalist” - James Mangold for “A Complete Unknown”

This year's nominations continue the tradition of the DGA awards being a reliable precursor to Oscar nominations, with four out of the five nominees usually making it onto the Academy’s shortlist for Best Director.

However, last year was an exception, as only three of the nominated directors received Oscar nods. Greta Gerwig for “Barbie” and Alexander Payne for “The Holdovers” lost their spots to Justine Triet’s critically acclaimed “Anatomy of a Fall” and Jonathan Glazer’s haunting “The Zone of Interest.”

This trend highlights a widening gap between the DGA and the Academy. While the DGA tends to champion established, big-studio filmmakers — often champions of the blockbuster — the Academy’s directors branch has increasingly shown an affinity for global perspectives and avant-garde storytelling.

Looking ahead, filmmakers such as French director Coralie Fargeat, known for the riveting “The Substance,” might still have a shot at the Oscars, elevating the anticipation surrounding the upcoming awards cycle.

Meanwhile, the absence of Jon M. Chu and “Dune: Part Two” director Denis Villeneuve from this year's nominations raises eyebrows. If their peers in the guild overlooked their commercially successful work, it casts doubt on the likelihood of their acceptance by Oscar voters, who tend to favor more nuanced narratives.

As the race heats up, the filmmaking landscape remains fiercely competitive. Could the Academy's surprising preferences lead to shocking upsets this awards season? Stay tuned as we keep you updated with all the latest scoop!