SAG Predictions: Best Male Actor in a Leading Role

Last year’s nominees: Christian Bale (Vice), Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born), Viggo Mortensen (Green Book), Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody), John David Washington (BlacKkKlansman)

I’m making predictions for SAG, which will announce its picks next Wednesday, ahead of the Golden Globe nominations being unveiled on Monday, though I may revise them again on Tuesday if there are some big surprises. It’s hard to imagine Joaquin Phoenix (Joker) and Adam Driver (Marriage Story) not making the cut. Even if he doesn’t score an Oscar nomination, Leonardo DiCaprio (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) should find himself nominated here thanks to past enthusiasm for his performances in films like “J. Edgar” and “The Departed.” I’m betting that Robert De Niro (The Irishman) scores here too, leaving one more slot open. It could be Eddie Murphy (Dolemite Is My Name), Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes), Christian Bale (Ford v Ferrari), Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory), Adam Sandler (Uncut Gems), or maybe even Paul Walter Hauser (Richard Jewell).

Current predictions:
Robert De Niro (The Irishman)
Leonardo DiCaprio (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)
Adam Driver (Marriage Story)
Eddie Murphy (Dolemite Is My Name)
Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)